Fatal Crash Snarls Traffic on Highway 50 in El Dorado County

Pickup truck struck guardrail and rolled down embankment, killing driver

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A fatal single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 50 in El Dorado County has snarled traffic in the area. According to the California Highway Patrol, a black Nissan Titan pickup truck struck a guardrail and then rolled down an embankment, killing the adult male driver. The far-right lane of eastbound Highway 50 remains closed as authorities investigate the cause of the crash.

Why it matters

Highway 50 is a major thoroughfare connecting Sacramento to the Lake Tahoe region, and this crash has caused significant traffic delays for commuters and travelers in the area. Fatal crashes on highways are always concerning and raise questions about road safety and infrastructure.

The details

The crash occurred shortly after 3:25 pm on Tuesday on eastbound U.S. Highway 50 near Bass Lake Road. CHP officers responding to the scene found the black Nissan Titan pickup truck had struck a guardrail and then rolled down an embankment. The adult male driver was pronounced dead at the scene. CHP is still investigating the cause of the crash, and the far-right lane of eastbound Highway 50 remains closed as they continue their investigation.

  • The crash occurred shortly after 3:25 pm on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

California Highway Patrol

The state law enforcement agency that responded to and is investigating the fatal crash on U.S. Highway 50.

Caltrans

The California Department of Transportation, which operates and maintains the state's highway infrastructure including U.S. Highway 50.

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What’s next

CHP said there is no estimated time for when the closed lane of eastbound Highway 50 will reopen as they continue to investigate the cause of the fatal crash.

The takeaway

This tragic incident on a major California highway underscores the importance of road safety and infrastructure maintenance to prevent such fatal crashes from occurring. Authorities will need to thoroughly investigate the circumstances to determine if any changes are needed to improve safety along this stretch of Highway 50.