A tragic crash on Saturday, September 13, 2025, claimed the life of Victor Manuel Castaneda, 21, a Sacramento State senior. Castaneda was driving to work when his pickup truck broke down on northbound Interstate 5, north of Sutterville Road.
According to reports, Castaneda was attempting to move his disabled vehicle toward the off-ramp when a semi-truck struck him. The impact caused his truck to catch fire, and Castaneda was unable to escape after being knocked unconscious. He died from fire-related injuries at the scene, while the tractor-trailer driver sustained only minor injuries.
If your loved one has been injured or killed in a freeway collision, contact Singleton Schreiber today to learn more about your legal rights and options.
The Dangers of Breaking Down on the Freeway
Vehicle breakdowns on high-speed roadways like I-5 are among the most dangerous situations drivers can face. With cars and trucks traveling at freeway speeds, a stopped or slow-moving vehicle can quickly become a deadly obstacle.
Collisions between passenger vehicles and semi-trucks are especially dangerous due to the massive difference in size and weight. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger vehicle weighs only a fraction of that.
Breakdowns are even riskier during nighttime or early morning hours, when visibility is reduced and drivers may be fatigued. In these conditions, truckers and other motorists have even less time to recognize a hazard and take evasive action.
Potential contributing factors in this accident may include:
- Limited visibility– drivers may not have had time to see or react to the disabled vehicle
- High speed differentials – trucks and cars traveling at freeway speeds may be unable to avoid stopped vehicles
- Driver fatigue or distraction – the truck driver may not have been fully alert at the time of impact
- Road or shoulder design – insufficient space to move the broken-down truck safely out of traffic lanes
When these factors combine, the results are often catastrophic.
Legal Options for Families After a Fatal Freeway Crash
For families like the Castanedas, the loss of a loved one is devastating. In cases like this, surviving relatives may pursue a wrongful death claim to hold negligent parties accountable.
Depending on the circumstances, liability could rest with:
- The truck driver, if fatigue, distraction, or negligence contributed to the crash
- The trucking company, for unsafe scheduling, poor oversight, or failure to train
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer, if mechanical failure played a role
- Government entities, if road design or inadequate shoulders made the area especially hazardous
Through a wrongful death claim, families may seek compensation for funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, emotional suffering, and the loss of companionship and care.
“Our hearts go out to the Castaneda family during this unimaginably difficult time,” says Brett Schreiber, founding partner of Singleton Schreiber. “Crashes between large trucks and passenger vehicles often involve extreme forces that leave occupants of the smaller vehicle with little chance of survival. In cases like this, we look closely at the actions of the truck driver, the trucking company, and even roadway safety conditions to determine who may be held responsible.”
If your family has lost a loved one in a freeway or trucking accident, contact Singleton Schreiber today for compassionate guidance and legal support.
