One Dead in Crash Off I-15 Freeway, Kenwood Avenue in Cajon Pass
CAJON PASS, Calif. (July 16, 2026) — A deadly crash along Interstate 15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass left one person dead and two others critically injured Wednesday afternoon after a vehicle veered off the freeway and tumbled down a steep embankment.
The collision occurred at about 1:53 p.m. on July 15, 2026, along southbound Interstate 15 just north of Kenwood Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol. It also triggered an extensive technical rescue operation.
Investigators said a motorist reported seeing a large cloud of dust before noticing a vehicle leave the freeway. The caller was initially unable to tell whether the vehicle had overturned or where it had come to rest.
When CHP officers and emergency crews arrived, they searched the area and located a 2017 Hyundai Veloster that had overturned approximately 80 feet below the roadway on a rugged hillside. The vehicle had sustained severe damage, and smoke was visible when rescuers reached the crash site.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department, assisted by CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit and personnel from the San Bernardino National Forest, launched a technical rescue because of the difficult terrain. Firefighters descended the embankment to reach the occupants and begin emergency medical treatment.
Authorities said three adults were inside the Hyundai at the time of the crash. One person died at the scene, while the other two occupants suffered life-threatening injuries.
Emergency responders used specialized rescue techniques to remove the injured victims from the hillside. One patient was airlifted by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aviation Division to a landing zone before being transferred by ambulance to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. The second critically injured occupant was secured in a Stokes rescue basket and carried up the embankment by the fire department’s Urban Search and Rescue team before also being transported to the hospital.
According to emergency radio traffic, the driver was among the two survivors taken from the scene.
Fire officials said the successful rescue required close coordination between firefighters, paramedics, aviation crews, and multiple assisting agencies, allowing rescuers to reach the victims despite steep terrain and extreme triple-digit temperatures.
Because the wreckage came to rest far below the freeway, the California Highway Patrol requested a heavy-duty tow truck to recover the vehicle.
The identity of the person who died has not been released pending notification of family members. Officials have also not provided updated conditions for the two hospitalized victims.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Anyone with information about the collision is encouraged to contact investigators.
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When it matters most, trust Attorney James Johnson at Johnson Attorneys Group. We are a personal injury law firm serving clients who have been injured throughout California due to negligent motorists. If you were hurt in this collision, call 1-(800) 208-3538. We will request the police report, and the attorney will discuss your options. You are under no obligation to hire us, and there is no cost unless we win your case. Our personal injury law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
