A 38-year-old man from Onyx was killed and his passenger suffered major injuries after a single-vehicle crash on Sierra Way north of James Road in Kernville, California, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Officers say the northbound Ford Super Duty pickup truck veered off the roadway at around 1:11 p.m. and struck the canyon wall along the Kern River. The impact caused the truck to overturn multiple times, and the driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. The right-front passenger was taken to Kern Medical with severe injuries. The California Highway Patrol says drugs and/or alcohol are suspected to have played a role in the crash.
According to KBAK/BakersfieldNow, CHP Bakersfield officers responded to the scene and are continuing to investigate why the pickup truck left the roadway. The outlet reports that authorities have not officially released the names of those involved. Canyon News also confirmed that investigators believe drugs and alcohol appear to have been factors in the crash, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call CHP Bakersfield at 661-396-6600.
