An abrupt stop caused a snake-like pileup involving seven vehicles on the westbound Interstate 8 Saturday afternoon.
The crash started around 12:55 p.m. as traffic suddenly slowed on I-8 near the I-5 exits, just north of Old Town.
When the first driver slammed on the brakes, it created a domino effect that trapped six other vehicles, slammed bumper to bumper.
"Just car hitting one after another," said Zaineb Jafar, a victim. "I didn't know if we were gonna survive at that moment."
Six people were taken to the hospital for cuts and pains, but all had minor injuries.
Traffic signs on I-805 warned drivers headed that way to expect delays as crews reduced the freeway to one lane.
California Highway Patrol officers had all lanes cleared by 2:30 p.m.