Bakersfield, CA – On the afternoon of Monday, July 20, 2026, a suspected DUI collision left a passenger severely injured after a pickup truck crashed into a parked big rig, according to KBAK.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 3:49 PM on southbound Highway 99 at California Avenue.
Authorities said a white Dodge pickup towing a utility trailer was traveling southbound in the number four lane, north of California Avenue, when the driver allowed the vehicle to veer onto the west shoulder, where the front of the Dodge struck the rear of a parked Freightliner tractor-trailer.
The Dodge became wedged beneath the trailer, trapping the right front passenger inside. Emergency personnel extricated the passenger, who was transported to a hospital with severe injuries. No one inside the Freightliner was injured.
Alcohol was determined to be a factor in the crash. The driver of the Dodge was transported to a hospital for medical clearance before being arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and booked into the Kern County Jail.
The crash caused several lanes to close and resulted in heavy traffic.
Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact CHP Bakersfield. The investigation remains ongoing.
California DUI Law
Section 23153(a) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that it is illegal for any driver to “Operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, as a result, cause bodily injury to someone else.”
Bakersfield DUI Accidents and Personal Injury Claims
California law prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When an impaired driver crashes into a parked vehicle and causes injury to a passenger, that driver may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing their share of liability for the resulting injuries.
The passenger injured in this collision may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the accident.
Bakersfield DUI Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident like the one described here, on Highway 99 at California Avenue, contact a California personal injury lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
