BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Claims filed against the city of Bakersfield in connection to a fatal three-vehicle collision on Harris Road back in April accuse the city of allowing an unsafe roadway in the area despite having prior knowledge of the unsafe conditions.
Three claims were filed on behalf of the estates of Omar Zacarias and Silvia Reyes — a father and mother killed in the crash — and their surviving son.
On April 23 at around 6:45 p.m., Omar Zacarias and Silvia Reyes were traveling eastbound on Harris Road in their silver Ford SUV and stopped at the four-way stop intersection at Summer Springs Drive.
A driver of a silver Toyota SUV, later identified as Sandra Lee Slaydon, approached the intersection at a high speed, “violently rear-ending” Zacarias and Reyes’ vehicle.
Zacarias and Reyes were pronounced dead at the scene. Slaydon was taken to Kern Medical and pronounced dead less than an hour later.
The claim argued the city of Bakersfield had explicit prior knowledge of the unsafe design and dangerous condition of Harris Road.
These include a 45 mph speed limit adjacent to a school zone, stone backyard walls limiting visibility and a lack of traffic safety measures or flashing signage, according to the document.
The claim also mentioned the city had received community complaints for years and that the area had a known history of several fatal crashes.
“The city of Bakersfield had long-standing, explicit notice of the hazardous conditions at the intersection of Harris Road and Summer Springs Drive but failed to implement sufficient corrective infrastructure,” the claim read.
The claims do not specify the amount sought in compensation.
A city spokesperson said the city does not comment on claims or litigation.
KGET also reached out to the attorney representing the victims’ family but has not heard back as of Thursday afternoon.
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