Authorities reported that a two-axle box truck and an SUV were involved in the wreck. At the time of the report, it was still undetermined what caused the vehicles to crash
Taft, CA – A woman was seriously injured in an accident that happened near a Taft intersection on Monday morning, according to the authorities.
The two-vehicle accident was reported at about 7:40 a.m. on Monday, December 22, near 2nd Street and Kern Street.
Authorities reported that a two-axle box truck and an SUV were involved in the wreck. At the time of the report, it was still undetermined what caused the vehicles to crash.
The SUV came to a rest in the middle of Kern Street while the box truck traveled off the roadway and crashed into a metal post near a building.
Firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene and attended to the involved parties.
The woman driving the SUV was taken to Taft airport and was airlifted to a hospital in Bakersfield. Authorities confirmed that the woman had major injuries.
The operator of the truck was not severely injured.
The intersection of Kern and Second streets was blocked as crews worked at the scene.
Authorities are investigating to determine what led up to the accident.
Kern County consistently exhibits a higher traffic fatality rate compared to both the state and national averages, particularly concerning pedestrians and at intersections. Data for 2017–2021 indicates that the county's fatality rate per 100,000 residents was nearly double the national rate. Taft is relatively a small city but records a significant number of collisions. In 2023, the city recorded 40 injuries and deaths due to traffic-related incidents. Speed was determined to have been a factor in 15% of the accidents that year, indicating persistent safety challenges that need to be addressed to avoid a rise in the number of injuries and deaths due to car accidents.
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