A head-on crash on Friday, October 9, 2026, around 6:44 p.m. on Wheeler Ridge Road at Creekside Drive, south of Lamont in Kern County, left one person dead and two others injured. The California Highway Patrol says a 2012 Toyota Tacoma pickup and a 2016 Honda CR-V SUV collided. The Honda’s right-front passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The Honda’s driver suffered severe injuries and the Toyota’s driver suffered moderate injuries.
According to Bakersfield Now, CHP’s preliminary findings are that the Toyota driver, a man from Arvin, made an unsafe turning movement, lost control, crossed the broken yellow lines and entered the northbound lane, where the Toyota struck the Honda. KGET also reported that CHP said alcohol or drugs appeared to be a factor. These are preliminary findings and the investigation is ongoing. The victim’s name had not been released in the coverage we reviewed.
