Kern County, CA – On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 15, 2026, a single-vehicle collision involving a van resulted in the death of Manuel Milton Rand, 62, according to KBAK, with additional reporting from CHP Fatal.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 2:45 PM on West Rosamond Boulevard near 170th Street West.
Authorities said the black Honda Odyssey van driven by Rand hydroplaned and went into an open field before rolling over. Rand was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries. The Kern County Coroner’s Office formally identified him following the crash.
A traffic break was initiated southbound at Dawn Road while emergency personnel responded to the scene before being released as traffic resumed moving.
The collision caused damage to a large metal power pole at the scene, identified as Pole 52, and Southern California Edison was notified and assigned an incident number for the damaged utility infrastructure.
Kern County Roads was also contacted in connection with the scene. A tow was requested for the vehicle following the conclusion of on-scene proceedings.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Single-Vehicle Collisions
In some cases, investigations may reveal that even in a single-vehicle accident, nearby drivers or unsafe road features share some responsibility. California’s comparative negligence rule means that, even if those injured in accidents are found partially at fault, they may still be eligible to receive partial compensation for damages through a wrongful death claim.
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.
