The incident happened just after 1:30 a.m. on September 5, 2026, at Airport Drive and Olive Drive.
Bakersfield, CA – A man on a sidewalk was struck and killed by a driver who attempted to evade a police spike strip during a chase early Saturday morning in Bakersfield, the Bakersfield Police Department reported.
The incident happened just after 1:30 a.m. on September 5, 2026, at Airport Drive and Olive Drive.
Authorities said just before the collision, Bakersfield police were looking for 21-year-old Isaiah Andrade on a warrant in relation to gun and gang-related offenses. At around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, police officers located Andrade near Clover Mountain Court and Pine Meadow Drive. Andrade got into a vehicle, allegedly driven by 20-year-old Gabriel Lopez, and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. The officers started pursuing the suspects.
Lopez and Andrade were traveling on Airport Drive, where officers had placed spike strips in an attempt to stop or slow the vehicle. Police said Lopez attempted to evade the spike strips by swerving, but lost control of the vehicle and hit a man who was on the sidewalk.
The man died at the crash scene.
After the accident, Lopez and Andrade fled the scene, but were later located and arrested. The suspects were taken to the hospital for treatment before they were booked into jail.
Authorities said Lopez was booked into the Lerdo Justice Facility Saturday morning on charges of second-degree murder, evading officers, and conspiracy. His bail was set at $1.3 million.
Andrade was booked into the same facility for evading officers, conspiracy, and gang- and firearm-related charges.