A woman was tragically killed after her disabled vehicle was struck by another driver in Bakersfield early Sunday morning. The California Highway Patrol says they were called to the scene in eastern Bakersfield sometime after 2:15 a.m. on November 27, 2022.
KGET-TV reported the accident happened along the westbound lanes of Highway 58, just west of the Oswell Street exit. Investigators say a 50-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man were sitting in their disabled Ford Thunderbird along the right shoulder of the road. That’s when a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck rammed the rear of the Ford. The Silverado then rolled over to land on the dirt shoulder.
The woman who had been driving the Thunderbird died from her injuries. The male passenger was not hurt.
The driver of the pickup, a 31-year-old man from Bakersfield suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. He was also arrested by California Highway Patrol officers. The charges stemming from the accident have not been released.
Bakersfield Nighttime Driving Hazards
Driving at night around the far less busy roads of Bakersfield can give motorists a false sense of security. They may feel they don’t have to worry about other drivers, but there are still traffic hazards to fear.
Other drivers may become sleepy or inattentive to the darkened road. Their nighttime vision may not allow for careful driving. They may have just left a restaurant and had too much to drink.
These and other dangers can spark dangerous collisions that other drivers won’t be able to anticipate. In Bakersfield, traffic officials documented 1,388 accidents involving injury in 2021. 42 victims lost their lives in those accidents. Of those accidents, 533 were recorded at dusk or dawn or at night in Bakersfield.
It’s critical that safe driving at night become a priority for every driver. There are so many dangers that lurk on Bakersfield routes after dark. It’s time we all made a better effort to allow people to get home safely no matter what hour they travel.
A word about car accidents in Bakersfield…
If a loved one has been the victim of a car accident, you should be aware of the benefits available to you and your family through a wrongful death insurance claim. Financial support should be expected to help with the burdens families face after a devastating crash.
You can read more about these wrongful death cases on my page about Bakersfield wrongful death accident claims.
