BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A deadly three-vehicle crash at a four-way stop in southwest Bakersfield has intensified long-running concerns from neighbors who say speeding and repeated collisions have made the area dangerous for years.
The crash happened at the intersection of Harris Road and Summer Springs Drive.
Police said a Ford carrying longtime neighbors Omar and Silvia Zacarias was rear-ended by a Toyota traveling at high speed, triggering a secondary collision with a Honda crossing the intersection.
Residents who live nearby described a pattern of crashes and fatalities at the intersection and said they have raised concerns for years about drivers speeding as they approach the stop sign.
In the week following the crash in April, a Kern County grand jury report was released examining how the city handles traffic safety complaints.
The report says the city often reacts to traffic problems after neighbors complain instead of taking steps to prevent dangerous situations before they happen.
It also points to growing traffic across Bakersfield and questions whether the city has enough resources to keep up.
The report notes that many residential streets in Bakersfield connect directly to major roads where speed limits are often much higher, and that the quick transition can make it harder for drivers to slow down, creating dangerous conditions.
It calls for more traffic studies, better tracking of problem areas, and stronger coordination between city departments and police.
The report also raises staffing concerns, saying the city’s traffic engineering division has had about the same number of engineers for more than 20 years, even as Bakersfield’s population has grown significantly and traffic has increased.
According to the report, that staffing level has contributed to the city being more reactive than proactive on traffic safety.
In many cases, the report says, residents must report issues and even gather signatures before a full review is conducted.
Neighbors near Harris Road said they want changes such as a traffic signal, additional warning signs, or other safety improvements before drivers reach the stop signs, arguing the current setup is not enough to prevent high-speed collisions.
In a statement, the city said it is reviewing the grand jury report and “will respond by the 90-day deadline.”
The city said it is “very much concerned with the safety of all road users in the City, including drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and anyone else on the roads.”
The city said it has adopted a Complete Streets Ordinance to ensure roadways are evaluated for safety for all users when they receive improvements or changes, and that it “has and will continue to implement various improvement tools when and where appropriate.”
Regarding Harris Road, the city said it is aware of residents’ concerns and has responded over the years, explaining what can and cannot be done and why.
“Much of what the City can do is dictated by the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) and specific conditions must be met for implementation of some of these tools,” the statement said.
The city said residents can contact the Traffic Engineering Division with concerns or requests for evaluations and improvements by calling 326-3724, and said it also has an interactive online map showing neighborhood traffic calming measures and projects across the city.