Car Trapped Under Big Rig After Pre-Dawn Crash Closes North Torrey Pines Road In La Jolla
Crash reported before 3 a.m.; one person taken to hospital
A collision between a passenger car and a tractor-trailer shut down a stretch of North Torrey Pines Road in the La Jolla area early Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, as emergency crews worked to free a vehicle that became lodged beneath the truck’s trailer.
San Diego police said the crash was reported shortly after 2:45 a.m. in the 10000 block of North Torrey Pines Road. Officers confirmed that a black Honda sedan ended up trapped under the trailer of a big rig. The events that led to the crash had not been publicly detailed by authorities as of Thursday morning.
One person was transported to a hospital following the collision. Police did not immediately identify whether the patient was the driver of the Honda or the driver of the tractor-trailer, and the person’s condition was not released.
Road closures and reopening timeline
The crash response prompted lane closures in the 10000 block of North Torrey Pines Road, a key connector near UC San Diego and the Torrey Pines Mesa area. The affected segment was described as being between Genesee Avenue and John Jay Hopkins Drive.
Initial closure: shortly after the crash report, just after 2:45 a.m.
By about 6:50 a.m., northbound lanes had reopened while southbound lanes remained closed.
All lanes were reported reopened by about 7:20 a.m.
Authorities did not release details Thursday morning on whether mechanical issues, speed, impairment, or roadway conditions were factors, and no citations or arrests were announced in connection with the collision.
What is known—and what remains under investigation
Early details indicate the crash involved a passenger vehicle sliding or being forced underneath a trailer, a scenario that often requires specialized towing and careful stabilization before vehicles can be separated. Police have not released information on the direction of travel of each vehicle, the exact point of impact, or whether any additional vehicles were involved.
Police confirmed a black Honda sedan became trapped under the trailer of a big rig, and that one person was taken to a hospital.
San Diego police did not immediately provide a timeline for when an investigative summary, collision report findings, or any contributing factors might be released.
Traffic and safety context along Torrey Pines Road
Torrey Pines Road and North Torrey Pines Road include curved segments, elevation changes, and limited shoulders in areas, with traffic patterns that shift sharply between overnight hours and the morning commute. In recent years, the corridor has also seen multiple serious traffic incidents of different types, underscoring the importance of cautious speeds and attentive driving, particularly during low-light hours.