Fatal Crash Taft Highway 119 at Coles Levee Road in Bakersfield

Deadly Collision | Box Truck v. SUV on Highway 119

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(May 14, 2025) — A fatal crash involving a box truck and SUV happened Tuesday on Highway 119 at Coles Levee Road in Bakersfield.

The deadly collision occurred around 4:47 p.m. on May 13th, just east of Tupman Road, according to the California Highway Patrol Buttonwillow station.

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The semi-trailer truck and a black Ford Explorer SUV collided near Taft Highway (Highway 119), between Tupman Road and the Interstate 5 Freeway, police said. The SUV reportedly caught on fire and spread to nearby brush on the side of the roadway.

Several good Samaritans were at the scene attempting to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived. However, at least one person died at the scene. The Kern County Sheriff-Coroner has not released the victim’s name at this time.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, according to CHP Buttonwillow.

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