Bakersfield, California – On Monday afternoon, Interstate 5 was the scene of a tragic accident resulting in the deaths of three men from Bakersfield and leaving another critically injured.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the incident occurred on August 5, 2024, at around 4:29 p.m., when officers from the Newhall Area received a notification about a southbound accident south of Templin Highway.
CHP and the Los Angeles County Fire Department quickly responded to the accident site. Preliminary investigations revealed that a 24-year-old man from Bakersfield was driving a 2001 Toyota Avalon at high speed southbound on I-5.
Witnesses at the scene reported that, for unknown reasons, the driver made an unsafe turn, causing the vehicle to collide with an ascending dirt embankment. The impact caused the car to become airborne and end up approximately 50 feet down the descending embankment.
Four people were traveling in the car, all men aged between 25 and 30. Unfortunately, the driver and two passengers died at the scene. The fourth passenger was transported to Henry Mayo Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
To allow for the investigation and recovery of the vehicle, CHP issued a Sig Alert, closing the two right lanes of the freeway for approximately six hours.
Authorities have asked anyone with information about the accident to contact Officer Penza or Public Information Officer J. Greengard at the Newhall Area CHP at (661) 600-1600.
The fatal accident on I-5 near Castaic is a painful reminder of the dangers on the road. The collaboration between CHP and emergency services was crucial in addressing the situation, but the loss of life is irreparable.
Investigations are ongoing, and it is hoped that the results will shed light on the circumstances that led to this tragic accident. Road safety must be a priority for all drivers to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.
