Denise Rivera Among 3 Killed in Bakersfield Crash on Weedpatch Highway (State Route 184) near Smith Road Friday morning
Bakersfield, California (November 29, 2021) – 31-year-old Denise Melinda Rivera of Bakersfield was among three people who were killed early Friday morning in an alleged DUI head-on crash in Bakersfield.
The deadly crash happened at around 2:27 a.m. Friday, November 26, on Weedpatch Highway, just north of Smith Road. Weedpatch Highway is also known as State Route 184.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Marcia Luqueleyson, 38, of Lamont, was driving her 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee southbound on Weedpatch Highway when she crossed over the center median and collided head-on with a northbound 2005 Toyota Corolla.
The two vehicles acquired major damage in the crash and were blocking both lanes of the highway.
Marcia Luqueleyson Arrested in Bakersfield Fatal DUI Crash
Two passengers in the Jeep, including Rivera, were declared dead at the scene. The Toyota driver also died at the site of the collision.
Luqueleyson was extricated from the Jeep and taken to Kern Medical with major injuries. She was placed under arrest on suspicion of DUI.
Weedpatch Highway was closed at Smith Road for nearly three hours during the investigation.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing. Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision is asked to call the California Highway Patrol, Bakersfield Area, at 661-396-6600.
Traffic Collisions in Bakersfield
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can be a traumatic experience for the victims and their families. There were a total of 3,259 car collisions that took place in Bakersfield in 2017. 54 people died as a result of the car accidents while 2,117 others were injured. Nearly half of the year's car accidents resulted in major injuries. Many factors contributed to these collisions. They include dangerous acts such as; distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, reckless driving, bad weather, wrong-way driving, and failure to observe traffic laws.
When you are involved in a traffic collision, you and your family may be forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars on medical bills, property damages, and maybe funeral services, while also enduring endless mental and emotional suffering.
Although the exact cause of the accident above was not immediately determined, the authorities will continue to gather more information, including witness statements to establish the cause of the accident. However, Pacific Attorney Group's managing attorney P. Mark Shayani believes that a separate and independent investigation into the crash is equally important. “A car accident attorney will investigate, research, and review every case thoroughly and explain to clients their rights and answer all questions to their satisfaction,” he said.
Victims of traffic accidents have an enforceable right under law to full and fair compensation for the costs and losses they suffer. Whether they receive what the law provides for them or whether they receive any compensation at all depends on how well their attorneys can pursue their claims through the intricacies of the state civil legal processes.
Call a California Auto Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in a traffic accident and got injured, it is important to get in touch with a litigator immediately for guidance. At Pacific Attorney Group, we specialize in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. We assist accident victims and their families to seek justice. Our attorneys will pursue the justice you deserve and will work hard to obtain fair compensation for your losses, injuries, and suffering.