The 12:38 a.m. traffic collision happened on Highway 58, west of Driver Road
Bakersfield, CA – One person was killed and others were injured after a fiery head-on crash early Friday morning on Stockdale Highway in Bakersfield.
The Kern County Coroner's Office identified the deceased man as Raul Inguanzo Jr., 39, of Bakersfield.
The 12:38 a.m. traffic collision happened on Highway 58, west of Driver Road.
According to CHP, a 2018 Freightliner truck hauling an enclosed semi-trailer was heading westbound on Highway 58 near Driver Road.
The truck was going at around 52 to 55 mph when, for some reason, the driver suddenly crossed into eastbound lanes coming into the path of a 2021 Freightliner tow truck, operated by Inguanzo Jr. The two trucks collided. CHP a 2003 Honda Odyssey was also involved in the collision.
The 2018 Freightliner and the semi-trailer it was hauling crashed into a power pole before bursting into flames. The fire burned nearby brush, CHP said.
CHP said Inguanzo Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene, according to CHP.
The drivers of the 2003 Honda and the 2018 Freightliner suffered moderate injuries and were transported to Kern Medical.
The incident remains under investigation.