Northbound 405 Near the 101 Interchange: One Person Dies After a Vehicle Rolls Over in a Multi-Vehicle Crash
SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA (November 1, 2026): One person was killed and two others were taken to a hospital after a multi-vehicle 405 Freeway crash in Sherman Oaks at about 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, on the northbound side near the Ventura (101) Freeway interchange, according to the California Highway Patrol, as reported by MyNewsLA. KTLA also reported the crash, saying at least one person died and that one car came to rest on its roof.
According to KTLA, video from the scene showed the overturned car, and the person who died is believed to have been ejected from that vehicle. MyNewsLA, citing a report from the scene, also said one person was ejected from a vehicle that rolled over and that the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Several other vehicles were damaged, and debris was spread across the freeway, KTLA reported.
A SigAlert closed all northbound lanes of the 405 near the 101 split for about five hours while officers investigated, according to MyNewsLA, which described the freeway as rain-slick at the time. KTLA reported that the lanes reopened by sunrise. The California Highway Patrol is handling the investigation, and anyone who saw the crash or has dashcam video can contact the CHP.
The CHP has not released the name, age or hometown of the person who died, how many vehicles were involved, the condition of the two people taken to the hospital, or what caused the crash. KTLA reported that there was no indication of a cause. In Los Angeles County, the name of a person killed in a crash is usually released by the Medical Examiner after relatives are notified.
Liability for a Sherman Oaks 405 Freeway Crash
California law generally holds every person responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care under California Civil Code § 1714. On freeways, Vehicle Code § 22350 generally bars driving faster than is reasonable or prudent given the weather, visibility, traffic and road surface, and Vehicle Code § 21658 generally requires drivers to stay within a single lane and move out of it only when that can be done with reasonable safety. When a person dies, Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 generally allows certain family members to bring a wrongful death claim.
- Sequence of impacts: In a crash involving several vehicles, investigators work to establish which vehicle struck which and in what order. That sequence often decides who may be responsible for each injury, including the fatal rollover.
- Wet pavement and speed: MyNewsLA reported the freeway was wet. Section 22350 generally requires drivers to slow down for conditions such as rain; the CHP has not said whether speed or the road surface played any role.
- Lane movement: If any driver changed lanes or drifted before the collision, Section 21658 generally applies. The CHP has not described any lane change, and the cause remains under investigation.
- Other people hurt: The two people taken to the hospital, and anyone in the other damaged vehicles, may have claims of their own depending on what the investigation finds, including against a driver who was working at the time.
Responsibility in a multi-vehicle freeway crash can involve more than one driver, and it depends on evidence the CHP is still gathering, such as vehicle damage, tire marks, witness statements and any available video. These are early accounts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Steps to Take After a 405 Freeway Crash in Los Angeles
Rain is a common backdrop for deadly crashes: Federal Highway Administration figures based on NHTSA data show that crashes in rain or mist killed an average of about 2,810 people a year in the United States from 2019 to 2023. After a serious freeway crash, these steps help protect the people involved and their families:
- Get medical care: Rollovers and multi-vehicle collisions can cause head, spine and internal injuries that are not obvious at first. Anyone involved should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible.
- Request the CHP report: The CHP collision report identifies the vehicles, drivers, insurers and witnesses. Families and injured people can request it once it is available.
- Preserve photos and video: Dashcam footage, phone photos of the vehicles and debris, and towing or storage records can help reconstruct a crash involving several vehicles.
- Be careful with insurers: Adjusters for other drivers may call quickly. It is generally wise to avoid recorded statements or signing anything before you understand your rights.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the Sherman Oaks 405 Freeway Crash
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, extend our condolences to the family and friends of the person who died, and we wish the two people taken to the hospital a full recovery. Two questions remain open: what started the chain of collisions in the northbound lanes near the 101 interchange, and did the wet pavement, the speed of any vehicle or a lane change contribute to the rollover?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck or pedestrian accident anywhere in California, our personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on November 2, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on November 1, 2026.
