Serious Collision in Torrey Pines Leaves Woman Hospitalized

Tractor-trailer and Honda Civic crash after Civic runs red light, prompting safety concerns at intersection

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:39pm

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A serious collision occurred early this morning in San Diego's Torrey Pines neighborhood when a 24-year-old woman driving a Honda Civic ran a red light and struck a tractor-trailer making a legal left turn. The impact left the Civic crushed beneath the trailer, requiring first responders to extricate the woman, who was transported to a nearby hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. The tractor-trailer driver was unharmed.

Why it matters

The crash highlights ongoing concerns about road safety in high-speed areas of San Diego, as the intersection where the incident occurred has been the site of several previous incidents, prompting calls for improved safety measures. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collision, including whether impaired driving was a factor for the Honda Civic driver.

The details

According to the San Diego Police Department, the collision occurred around 2:45 AM on North Torrey Pines Road near the Scripps Clinic's driveway. The 58-year-old male driving the 2021 Freightliner tractor-trailer was making a legally protected left turn when the 2024 Honda Civic, traveling south in the number one lane, struck the truck's rear broadside after running a red light.

  • The collision occurred around 2:45 AM on January 29, 2026.

The players

San Diego Police Department

The local law enforcement agency investigating the collision.

24-year-old woman

The driver of the Honda Civic who ran the red light and was seriously injured in the crash.

58-year-old male

The driver of the 2021 Freightliner tractor-trailer who was making a legal left turn when the collision occurred.

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What they’re saying

“The collision took place near the Scripps Clinic's driveway, in the Torrey Pines neighborhood. The tractor-trailer had been making a legally protected left turn when the Civic, traveling south in the number one lane, struck the truck's rear broadside.”

— Officer D. O'Brien, Watch Commander, San Diego Police Department (hoodline.com)

What’s next

The SDPD Traffic Division is currently investigating the collision to determine the exact cause and any contributing factors, including the possibility of impaired driving by the Honda Civic driver.

The takeaway

This serious crash in Torrey Pines underscores the need for improved road safety measures at high-speed intersections in San Diego, as the location has been the site of multiple incidents in the past. The incident serves as a reminder for all drivers to remain vigilant and obey traffic signals to prevent such life-threatening collisions.