A frightening chain-reaction crash on Interstate 5 in Kern County left at least one person dead. The California Highway Patrol responded to the scene in the southern end of the county on Saturday morning, April 8, 2023.
KGET-TV reported the crash occurred in the northbound lanes near the Freeway 5/Highway 99 split. Investigators say it started when the driver of a Toyota sedan struck the back of a Toyota pickup truck. The truck continued on and suffered a second collision on its driver’s side from an SUV.
The driver of the truck was ejected from the vehicle and tragically did not survive the crash. There was no word on if anyone else was killed or injured in the accident.
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate what led up to the collisions.
Maison Law of Bakersfield posted additional details about this tragic accident. They also included information about how families can protect themselves in the future after an accident claims a loved one’s life.
Interstate Freeway Dangers in Kern County
Fast-moving packs of vehicles on Freeway 5 pass through Kern County each day. Drivers can make good time, but when they start getting careless they can put themselves and others in serious danger. A motorist can look away from the road and miss a chance to hit the brakes and avoid a collision with slowing traffic ahead.
New Kern County accident statistics showed that last year, accident rates on I-5 took a slight step back, but incidents still led to far too many tragedies. California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) recorded 174 accidents involving injury on Interstate 5 through Kern County in 2021. Those crashes led to a tragic 13 fatalities.
In 2022, the accident numbers dropped only slightly, but there were fewer fatalities. Last year there were 159 accidents involving injury on the county’s section of the interstate. Those accidents resulted in 7 tragic deaths.
2023 has gotten off to a bad start on the accident front. It’s hoped that with each accident that’s reported, drivers will be encouraged to pay more attention to the freeway lanes ahead and make better choices that allow every motorist to get home safely.
What To Do After a Serious Car Accident in Kern County…
Families who have lost a loved one in a devastating accident are encouraged to stay informed of every benefit available to them. A California Car Accident Lawyer serving all of Kern County and the Central Valley will discuss your case with you in a free consultation. This case review is confidential and comes with no obligation to you or your family. After a fatal crash, the loved ones left behind should be protected from additional hardships now and in the future. That protection begins with asking a car insurance provider for full support after a tragic accident.
Martin Gasparian is the founder of Maison Law, a California Personal Injury Law Firm. Martin is a graduate of Georgetown University Law School and has been practicing law in California 2004. His practice focuses on helping injury victims know their rights and recover just compensation.
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