Thousand Oaks, California – A major traffic accident occurred on Tuesday, July 9, in the southbound lanes of Highway 101 near Lakeview Canyon Road in Thousand Oaks. The incident, involving five vehicles, resulted in three cars being thrown off the road, disturbing a wasp nest and creating a chaotic scene.
The multi-vehicle crash was reported around 12:10 p.m. According to Officer Ryan Ayers of the California Highway Patrol’s Moorpark office, one vehicle struck another, setting off a chain reaction. Three cars ended off the highway, causing significant property damage and an unusual incident with a wasp nest.
One of the involved vehicles veered off the road north of Lakeview Canyon Road, while the other two went off to the south. One vehicle hit a tree, and another overturned, disturbing a nearby wasp nest.
“There were wasps everywhere,” commented Officer Ayers, describing the chaotic scene. Firefighters had to deploy foam to control the insects, allowing people at the scene to remain safe while emergency services worked.
Despite the extensive vehicle damage, there were no serious injuries. Two women from separate vehicles were transported to Los Robles Regional Medical Center with minor to moderate injuries. One car ended up about 50-60 feet off the highway, and the other two were 30-40 feet downhill.
The right lane of the highway was closed to allow emergency personnel and tow trucks to recover the vehicles. This closure caused traffic delays of about half a mile. Investigators continued working into Tuesday afternoon to determine the exact causes of the accident.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries in this five-vehicle accident, but the event serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and attentiveness while driving.
