Wasco, CA – On the morning of Wednesday, September 9, 2026, a two-vehicle collision resulted in the death of Jose Manuel Mendez Camacho, 55, of Avenal, according to KGET.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 6:16 AM at Highway 46 and Wildwood Road, an area of rural farmland along the highway corridor near Wasco State Prison.
Authorities said Mendez Camacho was driving a 2006 Chevrolet eastbound on Highway 46 when a 43-year-old man driving a 2026 Ford westbound failed to yield at the intersection and turned into the path of the Chevrolet, crashing into the side of the vehicle. Mendez Camacho died at the scene.
The Kern County Coroner’s Office formally identified him following his death.
Kern County Car Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
California law requires drivers making a turn at an intersection to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic and to ensure the turn can be completed safely before proceeding. When a driver fails to yield and turns into the path of an oncoming vehicle, causing a fatal collision, that driver may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing his share of liability for the resulting death.
Mendez Camacho’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.
Kern County Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, at Highway 46 and Wildwood Road, contact a California wrongful death lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
