BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A woman was seriously injured after she was struck by a pickup truck in a hit-and-run crash on Niles Street late Friday night.
A woman suffered severe injuries after an unidentified pickup truck struck her on Niles Street and drove away from the scene late Friday night. PHOTO: KNN.NEWS
Social media posts following the crash claimed a street takeover may have happened in the area. Authorities have not confirmed a takeover.
The incident has sparked a larger conversation about the difference between street takeovers and Bakersfield’s car culture.
A woman suffered severe injuries after an unidentified pickup truck struck her on Niles Street and drove away from the scene late Friday night. PHOTO: KNN.NEWS
Tony Castiglione, founder and president of Cruizin’ 4 Charity, said his love for cars began as a teenager, when he and his friends shared an interest in muscle cars such as Mustangs, Camaros and Chargers.
“For us, it was about hanging out together, working on each other’s cars, learning together about what we could do to these cars,” Castiglione said.
Castiglione said street takeovers should not be viewed as representative of local car clubs or car culture as a whole.
“I think it’s not really a fair representation of the car culture or the car club communities as a whole,” he said.
He acknowledged that he and his friends also took part in dangerous behavior when they were younger, saying people may not fully consider the consequences until someone gets hurt.
“When you’re at that age, you don’t think about that stuff. It isn’t until, unfortunately, something bad happens that gets you that opportunity to kind of look back and go, ‘Gosh, maybe this is not such a great idea,’” Castiglione said.
Castiglione described street takeovers as people trying to take over and control a public space. He contrasted that with organized car events, which he said can bring people together and support local causes.
“We invite all years, makes and models because I want the younger generation to get a sense of what this car culture is about,” Castiglione said. “It’s more than being out there doing street races. It’s about the camaraderie of being together with one another and supporting a common cause.”
Cruizin’ 4 Charity’s three-day event is set for Oct. 8 through Oct. 10. Castiglione said burnouts and donuts are not allowed during the organized cruise, and organizers use barriers around the event area as part of their safety plan.