A woman was tragically killed after being run over by two vehicles Friday night in Bakersfield. Police say both drivers involved fled the scene of the pedestrian accident.
KGET-TV reports the accident occurred sometime before 10:30 p.m. around the 5100 block of Stockdale Highway on November 4, 2022. The scene was near the intersection of Village Lane in southwest Bakersfield.
Bakersfield Police say they arrived on the scene to find a female victim suffering from major injuries. Sadly, the woman was pronounced dead on the scene.
Investigators believe she was crossing Stockdale Highway when she was struck by a driver in a silver sedan. The driver then fled the area. The vehicle may have been a Honda with a rear spoiler.
Bakersfield Police say that a second vehicle, a black Chevy or GMC truck, came along and also struck the victim as she was down in the road. The driver of the truck also took off.
Police investigators continue their search for the two drivers. If you have any information about either driver or the whereabouts of their vehicles, you should call the Bakersfield Police Department.
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident Dangers in Bakersfield
Bakersfield isn’t known for its safe sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians. It isn’t known for its careful drivers either. In fact, Bakersfield scores high in California and the nation for its lack of safe passage for those traveling on foot.
Smart Growth America ranked Bakersfield as the 7th most dangerous place for pedestrians in the country in their 2022 study. That was based on each city’s pedestrian deaths for every 100,000 people over the past five years. Bakersfield scored a sad 3.41 victims per 100,000 in population. Between 2016 and 2020, Bakersfield recorded 152 pedestrian fatalities. That’s around 30 victims a year.
Unfortunately, hit-and-run drivers only add to those fatality rates. When they flee the scene of a pedestrian collision, they often leave victims waiting much longer for medical care since they don’t usually call 911.
It takes longer for police to become aware of the accident. This heartless choice can also leave victims in the path of other drivers who may not know they are there. A second and third impact is possible, each time reducing the poor victims’ chance of surviving.
The choice to run from the consequences of a pedestrian accident also leaves victims and their families to struggle with enormous hospital bills and in some cases, funeral costs and lost wages. Drivers and those who witness hit-and-run accidents must take responsibility to report what happened and end this shameful distinction for Bakersfield.
A word for families after tragic Bakersfield pedestrian collisions…
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Bakersfield, you should be aware of the benefits available to you and your family through an insurance claim. Financial support is often available to victims and families even when a hit-and-run driver isn’t located.
You can read more about these cases on my page about tragic pedestrian accidents in Bakersfield.
