According to preliminary reports, a vehicle was heading west on Pacheco Road when it struck a pedestrian at the intersection
Bakersfield, CA – A pedestrian was hit and killed by a vehicle in southeast Bakersfield on Saturday night, according to a report by the Bakersfield Police Department.
The accident took place in the 1100 block of Pacheco Road near Olivia Street at about 9:31 p.m. March 21.
According to preliminary reports, a vehicle was heading west on Pacheco Road when it struck a pedestrian at the intersection.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they located the pedestrian lying down the road. He was declared deceased at the scene and his name was not immediately released.
According to BPD, neither speed nor impairment appeared to have played a role in the incident. The involved driver stayed at the scene after the accident.
An investigation by the Bakersfield Police Department is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact the department at (661)327-7111.
According to the 2025 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Scorecard, pedestrian deaths decreased by 8.8%, falling from 1,213 in 2022 to 1,106 in 2023. Despite this improvement, pedestrians still account for approximately 25% of all traffic-related fatalities in California — a rate nearly 25% higher than the national average. Preliminary 2024 data shows this downward trend continuing, with a reported 12.9% reduction in pedestrian killings during the first half of the year.
The OTS identifies unsafe speed and alcohol impairment as the leading primary crash factors, with 29% of driver-involved fatalities involving a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Data highlights that 77% of fatal incidents occur after dark, and nearly 25% involve hit-and-run drivers.
Did you lose a loved one in this collision and have some legal questions you would like answered? A wrongful death lawyer can help you answer the questions.