Initial investigations determined that the pedestrian had been walking across the street when he was hit by a northbound gray Nissan sedan
Bakersfield, CA – The Kern County Coroner’s Office has released the name of a pedestrian who was hit and killed by a vehicle along H Street in Bakersfield early Sunday morning.
The coroner identified the deceased pedestrian as Joseph Adam Cruz Jr., a 19-year-old resident of Bakersfield.
Authorities said Cruz Jr. was found unresponsive on the road and eas later pronounced dead.
Original Story
Bakersfield, CA – An early Sunday morning collision involving a vehicle left a pedestrian dead on S H Street in Southeast Bakersfield, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
At around 1:51 a.m. on January 11, authorities received a call of a crash in the 4200 block of S. H Street near White Lane.
At the scene, police located a male pedestrian down in the roadway. Initial investigations determined that the pedestrian had been walking across the street when he was hit by a northbound gray Nissan sedan.
The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk when the vehicle struck him, according to the authorities.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene, and they confirmed the pedestrian was deceased at the scene. The pedestrian’s identity was not immediately released.
The involved driver cooperated with the investigators, who determined that speed and impairment did not play a role in the accident.
The Bakersfield Police Department is looking into the incident. Anyone with information regarding the accident is urged to contact the department at (661) 327-7111.
The city of Bakersfield has made some progress in reducing the overall number of fatal collisions, which decreased to 44 in 2024 from 53 in 2023 and 69 in 2022. Fatal crashes involving impaired drivers also saw a significant drop of 58% in the same period. Despite this reduction in fatalities, the total number of injury-related collisions has risen, with 1,813 non-fatal crashes in 2024, up from 1,784 in 2023, indicating that while fewer accidents are deadly, many still result in serious harm. Â A major area of concern remains pedestrian and cyclist safety. Between 2018 and 2022, Bakersfield experienced 181 pedestrian fatalities and has been identified as one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. for pedestrians. In 2023, the city saw 70 bicycle crashes, a 40% increase from two years prior, making it a high-risk area for cyclists as well. Â Common factors contributing to accidents across all modes of transport include speeding, impaired driving (DUI), and distracted driving. Certain locations, such as Highways 99 and 178, and intersections like Ming Avenue and New Stine Road, are known hotspots for accidents.
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