Bakersfield, CA – In the early hours of Thursday, September 3, 2026, a two-vehicle collision resulted in the death of a 68-year-old Bakersfield man and left another driver injured, according to KBAK, with additional reporting from CHP Fatal.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 4:48 AM at Panama Road and Tejon Highway.
Authorities said the Bakersfield man was driving a 2001 Honda Civic eastbound on Panama Road, west of Tejon Highway, at an unknown speed, while a 64-year-old McFarland man was driving a 2007 Toyota Tacoma southbound on Tejon Highway at approximately 60 miles per hour.
At this intersection, eastbound and westbound traffic on Panama Road is controlled by stop signs, while traffic on Tejon Highway is not. For reasons still under investigation, the Honda driver continued through the intersection and collided with the Toyota. As a result of the impact, the Honda driver sustained major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Toyota driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to Kern Medical.
County Roads was contacted for a closure at the intersection. The coroner was notified and responded, though with an undetermined estimated arrival time. Two tows were requested for the vehicles involved. The roadway remained closed for approximately 90 minutes while the investigation was conducted.
It is unknown whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact the CHP Bakersfield Area office. The identity of the deceased had not been officially released at the time of reporting.
Stop Sign Laws
California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a Stop sign (California Vehicle Code 22450). Drivers may only enter the intersection when it appears safe for all parties to do so (California Vehicle Code 21802).
Bakersfield Car Accidents and Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Claims
Intersections controlled by stop signs on only some approaches, sometimes called “uncontrolled” for cross traffic, present a heightened danger precisely because one direction of travel must stop while the other does not. Drivers approaching such an intersection are legally required to stop and yield the right of way to through traffic before proceeding, regardless of how familiar they may be with the road. When a driver fails to do so and a fatal collision results, that failure to yield can support a finding of negligence, and depending on the circumstances, may amount to negligence per se under California law.
However the investigation concludes, both the family of the man who died and the injured driver retain the right to seek compensation for their losses. A wrongful death claim may recover funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship, while a personal injury claim may recover medical bills, lost income, and compensation for pain and suffering stemming from the crash.
Bakersfield Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, at Panama Road and Tejon Highway, contact a California wrongful death lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
