Bakersfield, CA – On the evening of Sunday, September 6, 2026, a pedestrian hit-and-run resulted in the death of Crystal Louise Spores, 34, and led to the arrest of Guadalupe Hernandez, 36, according to KGET.
The Bakersfield Police Department reports that the accident took place just after 7:30 PM in the 2500 block of South Union Avenue.
Authorities said Spores was crossing South Union Avenue outside of a marked crosswalk when she was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound. As a result of the impact, the driver fled the scene before officers arrived. The Bakersfield Fire Department responded and pronounced Spores dead at the scene.
Using video footage, police located the vehicle in the 3600 block of Cottonwood Road and arrested Hernandez on charges including hit-and-run causing death. Hernandez admitted to being the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Bakersfield Hit-and-Run Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
California law requires drivers involved in any collision to stop, render aid, and remain at the scene to cooperate with law enforcement. A driver who flees the scene of a fatal crash may face criminal prosecution in addition to civil liability, and may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing their share of liability in the collision.
Because Hernandez has already admitted to being the driver, that admission could carry significant weight in a civil claim independent of the outcome of the criminal case. Spores’s family may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim, which can provide compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of consortium, and other damages related to the fatal accident.
Bakersfield Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, in the 2500 block of South Union Avenue, contact a California wrongful death lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
