Driver Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Police Pursuit Crash in Oildale
A 22-year-old man was killed early Saturday, September 5, 2026, when a car fleeing Bakersfield police officers lost control and struck him as he sat on a bus stop bench in Oildale, an unincorporated community in Kern County. Officers had deployed spike strips on Airport Drive near Olive Drive while pursuing a vehicle allegedly driven by 20-year-old Gabriel Lopez, who authorities say was traveling in excess of 100 mph. The car’s passenger, 21-year-old Isaiah Andrade, was wanted on an outstanding warrant for gun and gang-related offenses when the pursuit began. Lopez and Andrade were both hospitalized after the crash, and the pedestrian, later identified by the Kern County Coroner’s Office as Kevin Daniel Stevens, died from his injuries.
According to 23ABC News Bakersfield, Lopez appeared in Kern County Superior Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, evading a peace officer causing serious bodily injury, and driving over 100 mph. The outlet reported that bail was set at $200,000, plus an additional $25,000 tied to an alleged probation violation, with Lopez’s next hearing scheduled for Sept. 22. KUZZ News reported that Andrade faces separate charges connected to the warrant that prompted the pursuit. The Bakersfield Police Department’s investigation into the pursuit and crash remains ongoing.
Gabriel Lopez pleads not guilty in deadly high-speed crash that killed 22-year-old Kevin Stevens
Where It Happened
Airport Drive near Olive Drive in Oildale, Kern County, California
What the Law Says
California Vehicle Code 2800.2 makes it a felony to flee from a peace officer while driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, including excessive speeding or causing a collision. Prosecutors often rely on this statute in pursuit cases like this one, where a fleeing driver’s conduct allegedly caused a bystander’s death. A conviction can bring state prison time in addition to any homicide-related charges filed over the crash.
California Penal Code section 192(c) defines gross vehicular manslaughter as causing a death through driving with gross negligence, a standard that can be met by extreme speeding or reckless evasion of law enforcement. Family members of a victim killed in a pursuit-related crash may also be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver, separate from the criminal case. Civil liability can extend to other responsible parties depending on how the pursuit was conducted.
This summary is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts.
How Beverly Law Can Help
If you lost a loved one in this accident, our attorneys can help you understand your options. Free consultation, English & Spanish, and no fee unless we win.
Editorial note: Beverly Law publishes accident reports as a public service, based on information from official traffic authorities, local news outlets, and public records. If you are a family member of the victim and would like information added, corrected, or removed, please contact our editorial team: intakeassistant5@beverlylaw.org
Get the Police Report — Free
We’ll request the official CHP/police collision report for you at no cost. Fill this out and we’ll contact you as soon as it’s ready.
Oildale Car Accident Lawyer & Truck Accident Attorney — Beverly Law
Injured in a crash in Oildale? Our accident lawyers deal with the insurance companies and fight for full compensation — free consultation, no fee unless we win.
A car accident lawyer in Oildale — or a truck accident attorney in Oildale for big-rig and commercial-vehicle crashes — can protect your rights, obtain the police report and medical records, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Beverly Law handles car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, rideshare and DUI-victim cases in Oildale and throughout the San Joaquin Valley.