Sgt. Chris Soderlund reports three fatal crashes within 48 hours
By The Malibu Times · Thu May 14 2026
The past two weeks have been especially dangerous on Malibu’s roads, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Chris Soderlund, who delivered a detailed public safety update during the Malibu City Council meeting on Monday. Soderlund reported that three fatal crashes occurred within a 48-hour period on Pacific Coast Highway and canyon roads, including two pedestrian fatalities near Leo Carrillo State Beach that occurred roughly 14 hours apart in nearly the same location. A third deadly collision took place on Kanan Road involving a head-on crash. “Our hearts go out to them,” Soderlund said during the meeting.
The sheriff’s sergeant also addressed several major traffic incidents that caused significant disruptions throughout Malibu. On April 29, a serious collision near the Malibu Pier resulted in major injuries and forced the closure of Pacific Coast Highway in both directions for several hours while deputies conducted an investigation and crews cleared the scene.
The crash occurred on the same day city officials were participating in an evacuation tabletop exercise focused on disaster preparedness.
“It was good to see in real time what PCH can turn into just for a regular traffic collision,” Soderlund said, noting how quickly traffic gridlock developed even without a natural disaster.
Soderlund also described two unusual truck-related incidents that highlighted ongoing concerns about large commercial vehicles traveling through Malibu.
On May 8, a semi-truck attempting to follow GPS directions became stuck on Birdview Avenue after trying to turn uphill from Westward Beach Road. The trailer nearly slid into a ravine and required two heavy-duty tow trucks to remove it safely.
In another incident, the same morning, a delivery box truck lost control near Pacific Coast Highway and Westward Beach Road and crashed into a gas station, narrowly missing fuel pumps.
“We were fortunate there that it didn’t hit the gas pump and cause a much worse incident,” Soderlund said.
Councilmembers raised concerns about what they described as a growing influx of large commercial trucks using PCH and canyon roads despite restrictions. Soderlund explained that big rigs are prohibited on PCH unless they are making local deliveries and noted that deputies routinely stop trucks to verify documentation.
He added that many truck drivers rely on standard GPS applications that are not designed for commercial vehicles.
“There’s actually a separate GPS for truck and large vehicles, but they don’t always pay the subscription to use that,” Soderlund explained.
City officials discussed potential solutions including additional signage, coordination with Google Maps and navigation companies, and possibly using license plate reader technology to identify violators.
Looking ahead to Memorial Day weekend, Soderlund said Malibu’s beach patrol teams will increase enforcement efforts as the city enters the busy summer season. Deputies on ATVs will patrol beaches including Surfrider Beach and surrounding coastal areas, while the California Highway Patrol will also deploy additional officers during the holiday’s maximum enforcement period.
Soderlund also shared Malibu’s latest crime statistics, reporting 33 Part One crimes in April, bringing the city’s yearly total to 101 crimes compared to 72 during the same period last year — a 40.3 percent increase.
However, he cautioned that last year’s unusually low numbers were heavily influenced by the closure of Pacific Coast Highway and reduced activity following the Palisades Fire, which left much of eastern Malibu temporarily deserted.
When compared to five-year trends, Malibu crime remains significantly lower than in previous years. Soderlund reported that crime is still down approximately 35 percent from 2021 levels.