bakersfield

Jacob Conneen, 24, and five others sustained injuries in a Bakersfield car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Californian, the injury collision occurred the morning of June 9, 2011 at the intersection of California Avenue and Oak Street. Police say 18-year-old David Longoria, who was driving a Lincoln Mark VII, ran a red light and crashed into a Nissan Altima driven by Conneen. Both drivers suffered non-life-threatening injuries, as did four passengers in Longoria's vehicle. Longoria was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving and driving without a license.

My thoughts and prayers are with the many injured victims of this injury collision. I wish all the injured victims a speedy and complete recovery.

DUI Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 14 people were killed and 140 were injured in Bakersfield DUI collisions. During that same year, there were 35 fatalities and 476 injuries reported as a result of alcohol-related crashes in Kern County. Read the rest »

A dog bite incident in Bakersfield involving two pit bulls has left Alisha Billington and her family in fear, ABC News reports. Officials say the pit bull attack occurred on April 24, 2011. The Billington family dog, Dallas, was killed by two pit bulls that charged through their fence into their backyard. The dogs also turned and attempted to bite Billington's husband. Since no humans were injured in the incident, the authorities were not able take the dogs into custody. On April 28, 2011, the vicious dogs tore through the fence again. No one was injured that time either. One of the animals was surrendered to animal control after this second incident, but the seemingly vicious dogs continue to remain next door to this family. Billington says she now fears for the safety of her 2-year-old daughter.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family affected by this vicious Kern County dog attack. I wish them safety and peace of mind during this stressful time. Read the rest »

Seven people were injured in a Bakersfield car accident involving two separate vehicles rolling over. According to an ABC news report, the rollover accident occurred at Lerdo Highway and Magnolia Avenue near Shafter the afternoon of April 24, 2011. Police say a white van went through a stop sign and struck a black SUV. Both vehicles rolled over and one person was ejected. Two victims suffered major injuries, two others sustained moderate injuries and the three victims suffered minor to moderate injuries. Investigators are trying to determine why the driver of the white van went through the stop sign.

My thoughts and prayers are with the many injured victims of this rollover accident. I wish them all the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), two people were killed and 34 were injured in Shafter car accidents. During that same year, 103 fatalities and 3,460 injuries occurred involving car accidents in Kern County.

Possible Stop Sign Violation

It appears from the report that one of the motorists, the driver of the white van, failed to obey a stop sign. California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and proceed with caution. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21802 (a): "The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop as required by Section 22450. The driver shall then yield the right-of-way to any vehicles which have approached from another highway, or which are approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles until he or she can proceed with reasonable safety." Read the rest »

A man in a wheelchair sustained moderate injuries in a Bakersfield car accident, which officials say, involved a hit-and-run driver. KGET TV 17 reports that the hit-and-run car accident occurred at the intersection of California Avenue and Myrtle Street in Bakersfield the night of March 1, 2011. The victim suffered moderate injuries when a car struck him. The driver responsible for the accident left the scene of the accident. He, however, returned later and was arrested. The male driver faces hit-and-run charges and one other charge of driving with a suspended license.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victim of this hit-and-run car accident. I wish him a complete and speedy recovery from his injuries.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 11 people were killed and 86 were injured in Bakersfield pedestrian accidents. During that same year, there were 21 fatalities and 202 injuries reported due to pedestrian accidents in Kern County. Read the rest »

At least 21 people were injured in a train accident the afternoon of August 6, 2010 in Shafter, California. The Bakersfield Californian reports that many suffered minor injuries in the collision. The Amtrak train was carrying 219 passengers as it traveled south from Oakland to Bakersfield. The collision occurred between the train and a big rig at the intersection of Shafter Avenue and Central Valley Highway. Authorities say the caution arms and signals at the intersection were functional at the time. The driver of the truck was uninjured in the train accident. Read the rest »

A 42-year-old woman and mother of three, who was killed in a Bakersfield car accident, has been identified as Michelle Marie Maxwell. The Californian reports that Maxwell was a passenger in a vehicle that was being driven by her 15-year-old daughter Michaela. Their Hyundai was struck at the intersection of Panama Lane and Ashe Road by a driver, who according to police ran a red light and was driving under the influence. He was identified as 30-year-old Mitchell Green, an off-duty firefighter with the Bakersfield Fire Department. Green was also injured in the crash, but is facing felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges. Michaela has also been hospitalized with injuries, which are not life-threatening. Read the rest »