A head-on collision on State Route 119 south of Harrison Street, between Taft and Bakersfield, left three people dead and a woman with major injuries on Saturday evening, September 26, 2026. According to reports, a Ford Ranger and a Mercedes sedan collided head-on, and a Honda HR-V traveling behind the Mercedes was struck by debris and veered off the roadway. The Honda’s driver, a woman from Santa Maria, was taken to a hospital with major injuries.
Bakersfield.com reported that the California Highway Patrol said the reasons for the collision are still under investigation. The Taft Midway Driller reported that the crash happened at about 7:41 p.m. and that the CHP Buttonwillow Area Office is investigating, including whether alcohol or drugs played a role. Victim identities had not been released in the coverage we reviewed, and nothing has been determined about fault.
