Bakersfield, CA – In the early hours of Sunday, March 16, 2025, a suspected DUI collision resulted in multiple injuries and the deaths of two people, according to KBAK.
The Bakersfield Police Department reports that the accident took place around 1:37 AM at the intersection of Stockdale Highway and Coffee Road.
The deceased have been identified by the Kern County Coroner’s Office as 30-year-old Max Austin Mooney and 30-year-old Desiree Paula Noelle Mooney, both of Bakersfield. They were passengers in a vehicle struck by a white Hyundai traveling east on Stockdale Highway. The vehicle they were in was traveling south through the intersection when the collision occurred.
Emergency responders pronounced Max Mooney dead at the scene. Desiree Mooney was transported to Kern Medical, where she later died. Two other occupants in the same vehicle sustained moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The driver of the Hyundai, identified as 21-year-old Annabel Correa, suffered minor injuries and was hospitalized. Authorities said once she is discharged, she will be booked into Lerdo Jail on murder charges.
A preliminary investigation indicates that speed and alcohol impairment were factors in the crash.
A husband of one of the drivers told Eyewitness News that his wife was an Uber driver transporting three passengers, including the Mooneys, when the crash occurred. He said his wife was taking passengers home from a bar when the Hyundai failed to stop at the intersection and collided with their vehicle. He confirmed that his wife was injured and required surgery but was in stable condition.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information about the crash to contact the Bakersfield Police Department.
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.”
Wrongful Death Claims
Even if a fatal accident doesn’t lead to criminal charges, families who lose a loved one can still file a Wrongful Death claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. This can provide support to help cover medical bills, funeral expenses, and the loss of income.
Bakersfield Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, contact a Bakersfield Wrongful Death Lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
