Bakersfield, CA – In the early hours of Sunday, August 16, 2026, a fiery wrong-way collision involving three vehicles resulted in the deaths of a mother and her two daughters, according to KGET.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 12:44 AM on southbound Highway 99 north of 7th Standard Road. Family members have identified the deceased as Vanessa, Kloie, and Kylie.
Authorities said the crash involved the vehicle carrying Vanessa and her daughters, a BMW, and a Chevrolet pickup truck. Investigators are still working to determine which vehicle was traveling the wrong way. As a result of the impact, the car carrying Vanessa, Kloie, and Kylie burst into flames, and all three died at the scene.
According to a GoFundMe set up to support the family, the three had been traveling home from a concert in Fresno celebrating Kloie’s upcoming 17th birthday, which would have been August 20. The fundraiser is intended to help the family’s surviving 15-year-old son and brother, as well as to cover funeral expenses. The Kern County Coroner’s Office had not released the victims’ identities at the time of reporting.
Investigators have not determined whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
Kern County Car Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
California law requires all drivers to maintain proper lane discipline and prohibits driving against the flow of traffic under any circumstances. When a wrong-way driver causes a fatal multi-vehicle collision, that driver may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing his or her share of liability for the resulting deaths.
Regardless of the findings, the families of Vanessa, Kloie, and Kylie may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim can provide the families with compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of consortium, and other damages related to the fatal accident.
Kern County Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, on Highway 99 north of 7th Standard Road, contact a California wrongful death lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
