A report by the California Highway Patrol indicates that a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling northbound on the Highway 99 interchange with Highway 58 when it made an unsafe lane change. The Chevrolet was hit on the left side by a northbound 2025 Kawasaki KX350 motorcycle
Bakersfield, CA – The motorcyclist who died in a traffic collision that occurred on Highway 99 in Bakersfield last week has been identified by the Kern County Coroner’s Office.
Manuel Hernandez Jr., 39, of Shafter, was killed in the accident that took place at around 9:25 p.m. March 21, north of Ming Avenue.
A report by the California Highway Patrol indicates that a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling northbound on the Highway 99 interchange with Highway 58 when it made an unsafe lane change. The Chevrolet was hit on the left side by a northbound 2025 Kawasaki KX350 motorcycle.
The impact ejected the motorcyclist into the traffic lanes and was subsequently hit by multiple other vehicles.
The rider, identified as Hernandez, was declared deceased at the site of the collision. A GoFundMe account was created to aid in his funeral arrangements.
According to CHP, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was not suspected to have been a factor in the incident.
The collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Original Story
Bakersfield, CA. – A motorcyclist was killed in a multi-vehicle collision on Saturday night in Bakersfield.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal motorcycle accident happened on northbound lanes of Highway 99, near the Ming Avenue off-ramp at around 9:25 p.m.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a 36-year-old man driving a Chevrolet Tahoe crossed the line dividing the transition road and on-ramp lanes and struck a 39-year-old man riding a motorcycle northbound.
The rider was ejected and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say impairment does not appear to be a factor in the crash.
An investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Bakersfield is seeing a notable divergence in its road safety data, characterized by declining fatalities but rising injury rates. According to 2024–2025 reports from the Bakersfield Police Department, fatal collisions dropped to 44 in 2024, a 36% decrease from the 69 deaths recorded in 2022. However, non-fatal injury crashes increased to 1,813, signaling that while accidents are less frequently deadly, they remain common and severe. A disproportionate 39% of fatal collisions occur late at night (9:00 PM to 3:00 AM), with pedestrians accounting for nearly 40% of all traffic deaths in the city.
The 2025–2026 Vision Zero Action Plan highlights that Bakersfield remains in the worst tier for under-21 DUI incidents, ranking 1st out of 15 similar-sized California cities.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, speaking with a skilled motorcycle accident attorney can help you understand your legal rights during this difficult time.