Bakersfield, CA — According to KBAK, the Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the woman who lost her life on July 11, 2024, in a head-on collision on Panama Lane as 58-year-old Maria Delosangeles Ontiveros of Arvin.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that, at approximately 5:45 PM, officers were dispatched to the scene of a head-on crash involving two vehicles on Panama Lane, just east of Vineland Road. The accident occurred in a rural area surrounded by agricultural fields, with relatively low traffic but potentially high speeds due to the open roads.
According to the CHP, Ontiveros was driving a Hyundai eastbound on Panama Lane at an unspecified speed. Meanwhile, a 40-year-old man, also from Arvin, was traveling westbound in a GMC at around 25 miles per hour. For reasons yet to be determined, Ontiveros veered into the westbound lane, leading to a direct collision with the GMC.
Ontiveros was pronounced dead at the scene, while the GMC driver sustained major injuries and was transported to Kern Medical Center for treatment.
Authorities have indicated that alcohol may have played a role in the accident, although the investigation is ongoing.
Wrongful Death Claims
Establishing fault in a collision can depend on multiple factors. One crucial way a personal injury attorney can assist grieving families is by determining legal liability after the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident.
If another party is found to hold some responsibility for the death, the family may be eligible to file a Wrongful Death claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. This claim can provide compensation to help cover hospital fees, burial costs, and the loss of support for the deceased’s dependents.
