GLENN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Six women returning from a ladies’ getaway in Mount Shasta narrowly avoided a catastrophic crash on March 23, 2026, when a set of dual wheels broke off a northbound big rig trailer, crossed the center divider, and slammed into their southbound van. The driver’s calm response likely saved everyone inside.
CHP’s Willows Division described the moment the wheels departed the trailer and rolled directly into oncoming traffic. The women — friends from various locations across the United States and Mexico — saw the wheels coming straight at them. The impact was severe. Despite the force of the collision, the driver held her line, kept control of the van, and steered it safely to the shoulder.
CHP credited her composure for keeping the injuries minor. “Her ability to resist the urge to yank the wheel to the side likely prevented the loss of control and rollover we so often see as people oversteer in reaction to an imminent crash,” CHP said. “Her ability to maintain control kept the injuries to the occupants of the van minor in nature.”
The investigation into how the wheels separated from the trailer is ongoing.
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