Victor Castaneda (Full Name: Victor Manuel Castaneda) Died After His Disabled Pickup Truck Was Hit by Tractor Trailer Truck on Interstate 5 Near Sutterville Road —> GoFundMe Created to Help Victim’s Family
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (September 30, 2025) – A 21-year-old man identified as Victor Castaneda has tragically died in a Sacramento semi-truck accident on Interstate 5.
Sacramento County officials are saying that the collision took place on Saturday. Victor Castaneda Was traveling in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 when his pickup truck became disabled on the freeway.
A semi-truck driver failed to slow down in time and collided with the victim as he was attempting to move his truck to the off-ramp. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victim.
Sadly, Victor Castaneda was beyond medical aid and died due to the severe nature of his injuries. He was a senior at Sacramento State and studying kinesiology, according to his family.
You can help support the family of the victim through GoFundMe. According to the online fundraiser, “[Victor] was a man of Christ who loved people and was able to befriend anyone. He’s left an insurmountable sized hole in our hearts and home. All proceeds from this are going to my mom to help with funeral expenses in order for finances to not be something she has to worry about during this time. Thank you.”
Liability for Sacramento Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-truck drivers must acquire a commercial driver’s license. They are expected to operate with an abundance of caution to avoid hitting other vehicles on the roadway. This necessitates that they maintain a safe speed at all times. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.” Truck companies should take many steps to prevent accidents.
- Strict Hiring: Truck companies should conduct thorough background checks on all of the drivers that they hire. They should also ensure these drivers have appropriate commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) with all required endorsements.
- Driver Training: Truck companies should ensure that all of their drivers have regular safety training. This training should be updated whenever new regulations are introduced.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Truck companies should ensure that all of their vehicles undergo preventative maintenance. Commercial trucks have an extremely high utilization rate, which puts tremendous wear and tear on brakes, tires, and other components.
- Route Planning: Truck companies should do their best to plan routes to minimize high-traffic and high-risk conditions. In particular, steep grades can be extremely dangerous for commercial trucks.
There is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane of traffic. These accidents are nearly always the result of drivers that are not adequately paying attention to the road ahead of them. One of the major problems that truck drivers face is fatigue. Truck drivers are pushed to complete long routes at all times of the night and day. If they are not taking adequate rest breaks, this can severely impact their ability to drive safely.
Third-Party Liability for Truck Accidents
Many different factors could potentially contribute to any truck accident. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Motor vehicle crashes are complex events. Usually they involve two or more vehicles. Elements that influence the occurrence of a crash may take place hours, days, or months before the crash. They include driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway condition and traffic signaling, and weather conditions.” There could be several liable parties for any particular truck accident.
- Employers: The company that owned or operated a truck could be held at fault for a collision. Employers in California can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their workers–insofar as those workers were operating within the course and scope of their job duties.
- Cargo Loaders: There are strict loading requirements with respect to commercial trucks. If a truck is overloaded, this can impact the length of time that it takes for that truck to come to a safe stop. In turn, overloading a truck could be considered negligence.
- Truck Manufacturers: The company that manufactured a truck or its component parts could also face some measure of liability for an accident. This may be the case if a defect with the truck or its component parts contributed to an accident in some way.
- Municipal Entities: In rare cases, the municipal entity responsible for a stretch of road could be liable for an accident. Municipal entities can be liable for car accidents that are caused by a dangerous condition on public property.
It is essential that evidence be properly preserved after any truck accident. Evidence can help paint a clear picture of the circumstances leading up to a crash. Commercial trucks are often equipped with event data recorders (EDRs). These devices can reveal the speed that a truck was traveling prior to any incident. Unfortunately, truck drivers and truck carriers will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility for any accident. This is why it is so important that these events are properly investigated by an outside party.
Investigating Sacramento County Semi-Truck Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Victor Castaneda. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the California Highway Patrol. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. What was the speed of the semi-truck driver involved in the crash? Did they have the appropriate commercial license? Is there a history of accidents along the stretch of road?
Do you need more information about a Sacramento County truck accident? Our team of truck accident investigators is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights, and the truck companies are held fully responsible for their negligent actions. Our team can investigate the unique facts of any collision and get to the bottom of what went wrong. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular accident, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact our office anytime at (800) 541-3244.
