DELANO, CA — According to KBAK, the Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified Adolfo Raya Jr., 38, of Shafter as the deceased in a multi-vehicle crash on Pond Road and Highway 43 on January 12, 2024.
The California Highway Patrol responded to the scene at around 2:56 PM, where four vehicles were involved in the collision. The crash led to the closure of both southbound and northbound lanes of Highway 43, spanning between Pond Road and Schuster Road, for approximately four hours.
According to CHP’s preliminary investigation, a silver Chevrolet, having stopped at the intersection with Highway 43, was struck by a tan Chevrolet traveling northbound at a high rate of speed. The impact caused both vehicles to come to rest on the northwest shoulder, sustaining major damage.
Tragically, Adolfo Raya Jr., the driver of the silver Chevrolet, lost his life due to the injuries sustained in the collision. His passenger, a 33-year-old man from McFarland, was airlifted to Kern Medical with major injuries. The driver of the tan Chevrolet, a 19-year-old Delano man, was also transported to Kern Medical with moderate injuries.
The chain of events included a detached wheel from the silver Chevrolet striking a Lexus and subsequently hitting the front of a southbound Ford on Highway 43. CHP has ruled out alcohol or drugs as factors in the crash.
As the community mourns the loss of Adolfo Raya Jr., investigations into the circumstances of the crash continue.
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