2 dead after Lexus flies over median into I-280 traffic in Los Altos, CHP says

Two people were killed on Thursday evening in Los Altos after a Lexus crossed the Interstate 280 median and slammed into oncoming traffic, triggering a five-car crash, officials said. 

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The Lexus driver was traveling on the northbound side of the freeway near Foothill Expressway when the car went up a dirt embankment, plowed into the center concrete median and flipped onto the southbound lanes, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release Friday. When the car overturned, the Lexus crashed into a Kia SUV driving in the second southbound lane. 

The Lexus driver was ejected from the car and landed on the road, CHP said. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The Kia driver had minor injuries and was taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, CHP said. Two cars were driving ahead of the Kia, a Tesla SUV and a Toyota SUV, which were both damaged by debris from the Lexus.

The drivers of both SUVs were not injured, Sophie Lu, a spokesperson for CHP, confirmed to SFGATE. The driver of another car, a Toyota sedan, was pronounced dead on the scene after the Lexus’ right front tire flew off of and hit the sedan, according to CHP. 

Video footage of the crash’s aftermath published by KGO-TV shows emergency crews surrounding a severely damaged car with a crushed roof and hood resting on its side in the middle of the highway. In the video, debris can be seen scattered several feet down the roadway.

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The crash closed down the entire southbound portion of highway, detouring traffic to Magdalena Avenue for more than four hours, according to CHP announcements on social media. 

Each person in the five cars was driving alone, Lu said, and all of the drivers were adults. As of Friday afternoon, the two drivers who died have not been identified by the Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner, the office confirmed to SFGATE. 

Officials said it’s unknown if alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash and it is currently an active investigation. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact CHP at 650-779-2700.