The stretch of State Route 108/120 running from Oakdale to the Tuolumne County line looks unassuming and rural. However, the two-lane, five-mile segment between Kennedy and Lancaster is one of the worst stretches of road in California.
From 1997 to 2010, there were 18 cross-over crashes resulting in 23 deaths on this very stretch of roadway.
From 2013 to 2019, more than 26 additional cross-over accidents occurred.
And yet, despite this history, median barriers were never installed.
Proof That Median Barriers Work
On similar two-lane highways — including portions of State Route 37, State Route 12, State Route 41 — installation of median barriers reduced cross-over, head-on crashes to zero in previously high-incident areas. Every day median barriers protect innocent vehicles from crossovers drivers regardless of the reason the vehicle crossed over (improper driving, health emergency, vehicle defect, etc.)
February 19, 2026 — Another Preventable Tragedy
According to media reports, on February 19, 2026, another head-on cross-over crash occurred on this same two-lane stretch between Kennedy and Lancaster.
A 48-year-old woman lost her life, and four young, seat-belted occupants of a Tesla suffered serious injuries.
This was not an unforeseeable event. A properly installed median barrier could have prevented the crossover entirely.
We Have Seen This Before
We have represented numerous families who lost loved ones on roads without median barriers throughout California. Our office previously represented a young woman who was a passenger in a vehicle struck by a crossover driver on this same stretch of SR 108/120. That crash resulted in one fatality, and another victim suffering catastrophic, life-altering injuries requiring lifetime care.
When a dangerous roadway contributes to a crash, accountability may extend beyond the drivers involved. Our office has represented families for decades in actions against public entities throughout the State for dangerous conditions of roads, whether from absence of guardrails, median barriers, improper drainage, unsafe pavement, absence of adequate signage, and more.
Public entities have a duty to design, control and maintain safe roads, monitor conditions, and try to eradicate accident patterns from unsafe conditions. These cases require immediate investigation, preservation of evidence, and analysis of prior collision data. Government claims are also subject to strict deadlines.
If a dangerous roadway has impacted your family, and you would like more information, please contact the Brandi Law Firm (tjb@brandilaw.com) or (415) 989-1800. For more information, please look at our website www.Brandilaw.com.