55-Year-Old Man Killed in Highway 46 Crash Near Wasco, CA
A 55-year-old Avenal man was killed early Wednesday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 46 near Wildwood Road outside Wasco, according to the California Highway Patrol. The man, later identified by the Kern County coroner’s office as Jose Manuel Mendez Camacho, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet eastbound on Highway 46 when a 2026 Ford turning onto Wildwood Road allegedly failed to yield and struck his vehicle. Camacho was pronounced dead at the scene. The 43-year-old driver of the Ford was transported to Kern Medical Center with minor injuries.
KGET 17 News reported that the collision was called in around 6:16 a.m. Wednesday, with CHP officers stating the Ford had been headed westbound on Highway 46 before turning south onto Wildwood Road into the path of the oncoming Chevrolet. Investigators have not said whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash. Bakersfield.com later confirmed the victim’s identity through the Kern County coroner’s office. The CHP investigation into the crash remains active.
55-year-old man dead after crash on Hwy 46: CHP
Where It Happened
The intersection of State Route 46 and Wildwood Road just east of Wasco in Kern County, California
What the Law Says
California Vehicle Code Section 21801 requires a driver turning left, or making a U-turn, to yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is close enough to pose an immediate hazard. CHP investigators say the Ford involved in this crash was allegedly turning off Highway 46 onto Wildwood Road when it moved into the path of the oncoming Chevrolet. When a driver fails to yield during a turn and causes a collision, that failure can serve as evidence of negligence in a civil injury or wrongful death claim.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, certain surviving family members—including a spouse, domestic partner, and children—may bring a wrongful death claim when a loved one is killed due to another person’s negligence. Such a claim can seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship. Families in Kern County pursuing this type of claim generally have two years from the date of death to file suit.
This summary is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts.
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