By Ben Marmont, Fairmont Law Firm | Published August 17, 2026
Last updated: November 12, 2026
Dionicio Romero Flores, a 34-year-old Rancho Cordova man, died and three others were hurt after an SUV drifted onto the shoulder of eastbound Highway 50 in Sacramento and struck a group of friends changing a flat tire. The California Highway Patrol later confirmed that two of the survivors suffered major injuries. This guide explains what happened, how California’s Move Over law protects stranded motorists, and what legal rights injured people and grieving families have.
Late on the night of August 16, 2026, four men stopped on the shoulder of eastbound Highway 50 near the 34th Street offramp to change a flat tire. Within moments, an SUV drifted from the roadway onto the shoulder and struck them, killing 34-year-old Dionicio Romero Flores at the scene and injuring three others. According to the California Highway Patrol, two of the surviving victims suffered major injuries and a fourth complained of pain. The driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, and the CHP reported that it did not suspect alcohol or drugs as factors in the crash. The investigation into why the SUV left its lane remains ongoing.
According to CBS Sacramento’s original report, the crash happened around 11:30 p.m. on August 16, 2026, in Sacramento’s Alhambra Triangle area.
If you or someone you love suffered harm in this crash, Fairmont Law Firm is available 24/7. You receive a free case evaluation. You pay zero fees until we win.
What Happened in the Highway 50 Crash
The collision happened on eastbound Highway 50 west of 34th Street in Sacramento’s Alhambra Triangle area.
CBS Sacramento reported that a vehicle had stopped on the right shoulder after suffering a flat tire. Friends of the driver arrived and parked behind the disabled vehicle. Four men then stood outside the vehicle to help change the tire.
That roadside task became a deadly emergency within seconds.
According to CHP information reported by CBS, an SUV drifted from the roadway onto the right shoulder. The SUV then struck all four men outside the disabled vehicle.
Dionicio Romero Flores was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men suffered major injuries, and a fourth man complained of pain, according to CHP information reported by The Legal Advocate. Romero Flores was 34 years old and lived in Rancho Cordova.
CBS Sacramento reported that the SUV driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with authorities. The report also stated that DUI was not suspected as a factor. The CHP has not established why the SUV left its lane, and we will not speculate about fault before investigators complete their work.
The crash underscores a broader and often overlooked danger. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research, more than 2,100 people were killed while outside disabled vehicles at the roadside between 2019 and 2023, and researchers believe the true toll is even higher because many crashes are never coded as disabled-vehicle incidents.
The crash caused significant traffic disruption. Caltrans temporarily closed all eastbound Highway 50 lanes. Officials also closed the 34th Street offramp and the X Street onramp during the investigation and cleanup.
The crash location carried serious risks for anyone standing on the shoulder. Highway traffic moved nearby at high speed. A vehicle drifting only a short distance could reach the group almost instantly.
This tragedy shows why roadside tire changes can become life-threatening. It also shows why every driver must protect people stopped on the shoulder.
California’s Move Over Law Protects Stranded Motorists
California’s Move Over law requires drivers to create space around stopped vehicles, and since January 1, 2026 it applies to any stopped vehicle showing flashing hazard lights, cones, or flares — not just emergency and work vehicles.
Under Vehicle Code Section 21809, drivers approaching a stationary vehicle with hazard lights or warning devices must:
- Move into a lane that is not immediately next to the stopped vehicle when safe.
- Slow to a reasonable and prudent speed when changing lanes is unsafe.
- Pass with extreme caution.
The rule applies to more than police cars and ambulances. It includes disabled vehicles and stranded motorists displaying hazard lights or warning devices. Violating the Move Over law is an infraction that can also serve as evidence of negligence in a civil claim.
Read the Caltrans Move Over Law guidance for official safety information.
The California DMV Driver’s Handbook also instructs drivers to move over and slow down near stationary emergency vehicles.
The law creates a clear safety duty. Drivers must watch the shoulder and react before reaching a stopped vehicle.
Do not wait until the last second. Check your mirrors. Signal early. Change lanes only when you have enough space. If traffic blocks the lane change, slow down substantially.
Safer Options When Your Vehicle Becomes Disabled
A flat tire can leave you frightened and exposed. Standing beside your vehicle can place you inches from fast-moving traffic.
Use these safer steps whenever possible.
Step 1: Move your vehicle completely onto the shoulder.
Keep the vehicle as far from traffic as possible. Do not stop in a travel lane unless no safer option exists.
Step 2: Turn on your hazard lights.
Make your vehicle visible to approaching drivers. Use reflective triangles, flares, or other warning devices if you can safely place them.
Step 3: Stay inside with your seat belt fastened.
Remain inside the vehicle when it is safer than standing outside. Keep doors locked while waiting for assistance.
Step 4: Call roadside assistance.
Contact 911, CHP, your roadside assistance provider, or a towing company. Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, and nearby exits.
Step 5: Leave the vehicle only when necessary.
If remaining inside creates a greater danger, exit from the side away from traffic. Move behind a strong barrier or far from the roadway.
Step 6: Never stand between vehicles.
Do not gather friends around the disabled vehicle. Do not stand behind the vehicle while another person works on the tire.
The safest choice is often waiting for trained roadside professionals. Changing a tire on a freeway shoulder exposes everyone nearby to catastrophic danger.
CHP officers who responded to this crash made the same point publicly. “What we advise people is go to the shoulder initially, but put your hazards on, and keep driving to the next exit and then take that exit to get off the freeway,” Officer Michael Harper of South Sacramento CHP told KCRA 3. He also urged drivers to call 911 when a vehicle cannot be moved and to wear high-visibility vests.
The numbers show why this advice matters. AAA Foundation researchers also found that an average of 24 roadside assistance providers, including tow operators, are struck and killed by passing vehicles each year while working at the roadside. California’s overall pedestrian toll compounds the risk: the state recorded 1,106 pedestrian deaths in 2023, the highest of any state, according to federal data cited by the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Legal Rights After a California Highway Collision
A fatal crash creates immediate pain, confusion, and financial pressure. Insurance companies may contact you quickly. Their goal is to limit what they pay.
You have rights.
An injured survivor may have a personal injury claim when another person’s careless or unlawful conduct caused the crash. A claim may seek compensation for:
- Emergency treatment and hospital bills
- Future medical care
- Lost income and reduced earning ability
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Out-of-pocket expenses
The exact value and legal strength of a claim depend on the evidence. Investigators must determine what caused the SUV to leave its lane and strike the men.
Evidence can include:
- CHP reports and collision diagrams
- 911 calls and dispatch records
- Witness statements
- Dashcam or surveillance footage
- Vehicle event data
- Photos of the shoulder and vehicles
- Medical records
- Employment and wage records
- Tire, vehicle, and maintenance evidence
The surviving family of Dionicio Romero Flores may also have a wrongful-death claim under Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, which identifies the decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children, and other specified relatives, as those entitled to sue. California wrongful-death claims can address losses connected to the death, including financial support, household services, and the family’s loss of companionship.
A lawyer must identify the proper claimants and calculate the damages supported by California law. Survivors generally have two years to file a wrongful-death lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. The process requires careful investigation, especially when multiple vehicles, insurance policies, or roadway conditions may matter.
Do not assume that a driver remaining at the scene eliminates civil responsibility. Do not assume that no DUI suspicion ends the legal inquiry. Criminal charges and civil claims use different standards and examine different issues.
A California car accident lawyer can protect the evidence and handle communications while your family focuses on healing.
Do Not Wait to Protect Your Claim
California courts generally provide a two-year deadline for personal injury lawsuits. Wrongful-death deadlines also require immediate attention.
Different rules can apply when a government agency, public roadway condition, or government employee is involved. Government claims often have much earlier requirements.
Review the California Courts’ statute-of-limitations guidance for general information.
Deadlines are not the only reason to act quickly. Evidence disappears. Vehicles get repaired or sold. Witnesses forget details. Insurance companies begin building their defense immediately.
Take these actions now:
[ ] Seek medical care and follow your treatment plan.
[ ] Report the collision to the appropriate authorities.
[ ] Preserve photographs, videos, clothing, and vehicle evidence.
[ ] Save medical bills, wage records, and insurance communications.
[ ] Avoid posting about the crash on social media.
[ ] Do not give a recorded statement before speaking with a lawyer.
[ ] Contact a California personal injury lawyer for a case evaluation.
Fairmont Law Firm Stands With Injured Californians
Your family should not face a powerful insurance company alone.
Fairmont Law Firm represents people injured in car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, and rideshare accidents. We fight to secure compensation while you focus on recovery.
We serve injured clients across all 58 California counties. Our team provides:
- Zero Fee Until We Win
- Free Case Evaluation
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If you were injured on Highway 50, or your loved one died in this crash, contact Fairmont Law Firm now. We will review what happened, explain your legal options, and fight for your family. Se Habla Español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover compensation if I was hit while helping change a tire?
Yes, you may have a personal injury claim if evidence shows another party caused your injuries. A lawyer will investigate the driver’s actions, vehicle condition, roadway, warnings, and other relevant facts.
Can the family bring a wrongful-death claim?
The surviving family may have a wrongful-death claim under California law. Eligibility and recoverable damages depend on family relationships and case-specific evidence.
Does California’s Move Over law apply to disabled vehicles?
Yes. California’s current roadside-safety guidance extends Move Over protections to stranded motorists using hazard lights or warning devices.
What if the insurance company contacts me?
Do not provide a recorded statement or accept a settlement before receiving legal guidance. Insurers often seek information that can reduce your recovery.
How much does a Fairmont lawyer cost?
You pay zero fees until we win. Your case evaluation is free, and our team is available 24/7.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about the August 16, 2026 Highway 50 collision in Sacramento, California roadside safety, and potential legal claims. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every accident involves different facts and deadlines. Speak with a qualified California attorney about your specific situation.