At Mitchell & Danoff Law Firm, Inc, we know how every year, residents of Hollister and San Benito County face a heightened risk of serious collisions while traveling Highways 152 and 156 — two of the most heavily trafficked commercial routes in Central California. Known as Pacheco Pass, Highway 152 connects the San Jose metro area to the Central Valley, and thousands of 18-wheelers, agricultural haulers, and commercial vehicles use it daily. When a large commercial truck collides with a passenger vehicle on these narrow mountain roads, the results are often catastrophic. This article explores why these highways are so dangerous, what causes truck accidents here, and what injured San Benito County residents need to know about their legal rights.
Why Pacheco Pass and Highway 156 Are So Dangerous
Highway 152 through Pacheco Pass is a two-lane road that climbs over 1,300 feet in elevation before descending steeply toward Los Banos. It includes long uphill grades where loaded commercial trucks struggle for speed, followed by sharp downhill curves where brake fade and runaway truck events have claimed lives. Passing opportunities are limited, and drivers frustrated by slow-moving freight vehicles often attempt dangerous maneuvers in restricted zones.
Highway 156, connecting San Juan Bautista to Highway 101 and Highway 25, carries heavy agricultural traffic from the Salinas Valley through the Hollister area. The interchange of Highway 156 and Highway 101 near San Juan Bautista has been the site of multiple serious collisions involving commercial vehicles, particularly during harvest seasons when freight volume peaks.
According to Caltrans and California Highway Patrol data, the segment of Highway 152 between Gilroy and Los Banos consistently ranks among the deadliest rural highway corridors in the state, with commercial vehicle involvement far exceeding statewide averages for comparable roads.
Truck Accident Statistics: Highway 152 and San Benito County
The table below summarizes reported collision data for the Highway 152 corridor and related San Benito County routes (Source: CHP SWITRS data, Caltrans Safety Reports):
| Year | Total Collisions | Truck-Involved | Injury / Fatal | Fatalities |
| 2020 | 87 | 31 | 44 | 6 |
| 2021 | 91 | 34 | 50 | 7 |
| 2022 | 103 | 39 | 57 | 9 |
| 2023 | 98 | 37 | 54 | 8 |
| 2024 | 109 | 41 | 62 | 11 |
Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents in San Benito County
Most serious truck collisions on Highways 152 and 156 involve a combination of human error, mechanical failure, and environmental conditions. The most frequently cited contributing factors include:
- Driver fatigue: Federal Hours of Service rules are frequently violated by long-haul operators. Drivers approaching their permitted hours limits may push through without adequate rest, especially on familiar routes.
- Brake failure on steep downhill grades: Loaded trucks descending Pacheco Pass place extreme stress on braking systems. Improperly maintained or adjusted brakes have contributed to multiple runaway truck incidents on this highway.
- Distracted driving: Truckers operating under pressure to meet delivery windows may use mobile devices or become inattentive during long stretches of familiar road.
- Unsecured or overweight cargo: Agricultural products, construction materials, and oversized loads traveling through San Benito County have shifted in transit, triggering rollovers and creating road debris hazards.
- Speeding and aggressive driving: Some commercial drivers exceed safe speeds for road and weather conditions, especially during nighttime or foggy driving on Pacheco Pass.
- Deferred vehicle maintenance: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) inspection records show that a meaningful percentage of carriers operating on Highway 152 carry prior vehicle maintenance violations.
Who Is Legally Liable for a Truck Accident?
Unlike standard car accidents, truck accident claims often involve multiple parties who may share liability. Depending on the circumstances, you may have viable claims against the truck driver personally, the trucking company that employed or contracted the driver, the freight company responsible for loading cargo, the truck manufacturer or a maintenance provider, or even a government entity if road design or missing signage contributed to the crash.
California law holds trucking companies to a high standard of care. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are generally liable for the negligent acts of their employees on duty. Trucking companies can also be held directly liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or failure to enforce required safety regulations and hours-of-service compliance. A Hollister, CA truck accident lawyer can investigate these factors and determine whether the trucking company may share responsibility for the crash.
What to Do After a Truck Accident on Highway 152 or 156
The steps you take in the hours and days immediately following a truck accident can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation:
- Call 911 and request medical assistance even if you feel uninjured. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and internal bleeding may not produce immediate symptoms.
- Document the scene thoroughly: photograph vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, road signs, guardrails, and any visible cargo spills or road debris.
- Gather information: record the truck driver’s commercial license number, the trucking company name and DOT number visible on the cab, and insurance information.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer without legal counsel. Insurance adjusters are trained to elicit statements that minimize payouts.
- Preserve all medical records and seek treatment promptly. Gaps in treatment can later be used by the defense to argue that your injuries are not severe.
- Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Critical truck accident evidence — electronic logging device data, onboard black box records, driver logs, and maintenance records — can legally be destroyed or overwritten within a short window.
How Mitchell & Danoff Law Firm Can Help You
At Mitchell & Danoff Law Firm, our attorneys have extensive experience representing truck accident victims throughout San Benito County, Santa Clara County, Monterey County, and the surrounding region. We handle every aspect of your claim, from investigating the crash and securing time-sensitive evidence to negotiating aggressively with insurance carriers and, when necessary, taking your case to trial.
We work exclusively on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing unless we win your case. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident on Highway 152, Highway 156, or anywhere in Northern or Central California, call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.