Bakersfield, CA – Emmanuel Flores has been identified as one of those injured in a multi-vehicle collision on the morning of Friday, June 27, 2025, which also resulted in one fatality, according to KBAK.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the crash occurred around 12:38 AM on Highway 58, just west of Driver Road.
Investigators determined that a 2018 Freightliner big rig traveling westbound veered across the center median into the eastbound lanes for unknown reasons. The vehicle collided head-on with a 2021 Freightliner tow truck driven by Raul Inguanzo Jr, 39, of Bakersfield.
A 2003 Honda Odyssey van, driven by Emmanuel Flores, was following the tow truck and also became involved in the collision.
After the impact, the 2018 Freightliner and its enclosed trailer veered off the road, struck a utility pole, and caught fire, sparking a small brush fire that was later contained by emergency crews. Flores and the driver of the big rig were both transported to Kern Medical with major injuries. Inguanzo was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a GoFundMe page created by Flores’s son, Emmanuel Flores, Jr., the injured van driver remains hospitalized and faces a lengthy recovery.
Highway 58 was closed between Superior Road and Nord Avenue for nearly 11 hours as emergency personnel investigated the scene and cleared the wreckage. The roadway was reopened later that morning.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash. It is not yet known whether drugs or alcohol played a role. The California Highway Patrol urges anyone with information about the incident to contact its Bakersfield Area office.
Personal Injury Claims
After a traffic accident, victims and their families often deal with unexpected financial burdens, such as medical bills, lost income, and, in the worst cases, burial costs. A Personal Injury Claim allows accident victims to hold the at-fault party financially responsible for their cost of care.
California Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, contact a California Truck Accident Lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
