Woodland Hills, California (April 22, 2026) — A 61-year-old woman was killed early Wednesday morning in a multi-vehicle collision on the Ventura 101 Freeway near Woodland Hills, according to authorities.
Officials identified the deceased as Rosada Haines.
The fatal crash happened at about 1:36 a.m. on the northbound 101 Freeway near the Valley Circle Boulevard exit.
Incident Details: According to the California Highway Patrol, officers responded to the northbound freeway after receiving reports of a collision involving multiple vehicles. When officers arrived, they found a black sedan and a black SUV in the middle lanes of the freeway.
Authorities also reported that a dark sedan and a black Dodge Charger had collided several feet away. Haines was pronounced dead at the scene. Another injured person was transported by Los Angeles Fire Department personnel to a hospital with injuries that were not immediately described.
The fatal crash shut down the 101 Freeway for about four hours while the CHP investigated and cleared the scene. Officials have not yet released a final determination on what caused the collision.
Investigation: Multi-vehicle freeway crashes require careful sequence analysis since the final scene may not reveal the full story. Investigators need to determine whether vehicles were part of a single chain reaction or separate, nearby collisions. This distinction affects liability, based on who created the initial hazard, who had time to react, and if secondary impacts occurred.
Investigators examine early-morning factors like visibility, traffic, lane position, lighting, vehicle speeds, and possible obstructions from prior impacts. They also consider impairment, fatigue, distraction, unsafe lane changes, or speed as causes, though none have been confirmed publicly. These issues are typical in fatal freeway crashes. Physical evidence like vehicle damage, debris, gouges, skid marks, event data, witnesses, and camera footage will likely be key.
Legal Considerations: Fatal multi-vehicle crashes often involve layered liability. If one driver caused the initial collision through speeding, impairment, distraction, unsafe lane change, or negligence, they may be responsible for subsequent harm. If another driver then failed to slow, move safely, or avoid an existing hazard when able to do so, they may also be scrutinized. Investigators need to determine the impact order, vehicle control at each stage, and if driver conduct worsened the crash. In multi-car freeway crashes, accountability depends on understanding the full chain of events, not just vehicle positions.
Depending on the evidence, Haines’ family may have grounds for a wrongful death claim against one or more responsible parties. A wrongful death claim may help address funeral and burial expenses, medical costs incurred before death, if any, the loss of financial support, and the loss of care, companionship, and guidance. Just as important, the civil process can help a family obtain records and evidence that clarify what happened.
I want to express my deepest sympathies to Rosada Haines’ family and those who loved her.