Zyon Romero died in the crash that happened around 12:41 p.m., December 31, on southbound Highway 14 north of Phillips Road.
Mojave, CA – The Kern County Coroner's Office has identified the 6-year-old girl who was ejected and killed in a rollover collision on New Year's Eve in Mojave.
Zyon Romero died in the crash that happened around 12:41 p.m., December 31, on southbound Highway 14 north of Phillips Road.
According to the California Highway Patrol, reports were made of a driver being forced off the highway by two other cars. Moments later, a rollover collision was reported in the area.
Investigators responded and found a Chevrolet Tahoe that had lost control and overturned in the center median.
Zyon was ejected from the car during the crash, sustaining fatal injuries.
Two other minors, ages 9 and 11, suffered minor to moderate injuries in the accident.
The driver, a 40-year-old woman, was also hospitalized with moderate injuries.
Authorities are working to establish the circumstances that led to the crash.
Original Story
Mojave, CA – A 6-year-old child was killed and three others were injured Wednesday afternoon in a rollover crash along Highway 14 in Mojave, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision was reported at approximately 12:41 p.m., December 31, on the southbound lanes of Highway 14, north of Phillips Road, CHP officials said.
Investigators stated that a 40-year-old woman was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe when she lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn into the center median. Three children were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.
The 6-year-old child was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The Kern County Coroner's Office will release the child's identity at a later time.
The driver and two other children, ages 9 and 11, were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries was not immediately disclosed.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by CHP.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Kern County experienced a notable number of crash victims killed and injured in recent years, with the county often ranking poorly across the state on various metrics. In 2023, Kern County recorded 6,028 victims killed and injured in total fatal and injury collisions, resulting in an OTS ranking of 52 out of 58 California counties. This reflects an increase from 5,561 victims in 2022, when the county ranked 25 out of 58. Kern County has consistently shown higher-than-average crash rates compared to the state as a whole. Data from a five-year study showed Kern County's fatality rate per 100,000 residents was nearly double the national rate and more than double California's rate. Specific areas of concern include intersection safety, where the crash rate is approximately 32.41% higher than the average across all California counties. In 2023, there were 813 victims in alcohol-involved collisions, and 313 pedestrian victims, with the county ranking poorly in both categories.
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