7-car accident backs up Bay Bridge on Thanksgiving; 2 of 16 involved taken to hospital

ByJ.R. Stone KGO logo

Friday, November 25, 2022

7-car accident on SF-Bay Bridge causes major Thanksgiving delays

Sixteen people were involved in a multi-vehicle crash that took place on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 on the Bay Bridge.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- All is now clear on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, but that was not the case for much of Thanksgiving afternoon.

As many were trying to get to their Thanksgiving destinations, there was a seven-car accident in the Yerba Buena Tunnel along the eastbound lanes of the Bay Bridge.

"I have no idea how that car ended up on top of the other car. I would love to know how that happened because that was crazy looking," said Karen Lamadrid, who witnessed the aftermath of the accident.

The Lamadrid family knew something wasn't right even before they drove by the multi-car accident. They only saw fire trucks whizzing by them and feared that there was a fire.

"I thought if there is a fire, there is no way out - that was it, that's why I was afraid and I was praying like crazy and I was texting people to pray to get us out of there," said Karen Lamadrid.

CHP says seven cars were involved in the accident and there were 16 occupants within those cars, eight adults and eight kids. Two of the sixteen were transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

When the Lamadrid family did get to the tunnel, they were amazed at the sight.

"We could see a car sitting on top of a car - we saw probably seven cars, like three to four piled up the end and then you see the other cars - there were front and back damages, it was a lot," said Dave Lamadrid.

As to what led to the accident, CHP says it's under investigation but do confirm that drugs and alcohol are not to blame.

The accident led to major delays. One woman told us it took her two-and-a-half hours to get to Antioch, another driver said he turned around and took the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.

Out-of-towners we spoke with were impressed with local emergency crews.

"The police and the firefighters, they did a really good job diverting traffic, and the people were courteous to one another allowing us to move over. I don't know if it would have been like that in Los Angeles but here it was," said Karen Lamadrid.