A pickup truck driver was killed Thursday afternoon in a crash at Columbus Street and Bucknell Street while a crossing guard was escorting children across the road.
Courtesy: RD on the Scene
The crash happened around 2:20 p.m. when an older model pickup truck traveling west on Columbus Street hit the back of another vehicle that was slowing for the crossing guard, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
The pickup driver, who was the only person inside the truck, suffered major injuries and was pronounced dead by medical personnel.
The driver of the other vehicle was not hurt. The crossing guard and the children were also not injured.
Courtesy: RD on the Scene
The speed limit along that stretch of Columbus Street is normally 40 mph, but because children and a crossing guard were present, police said the area was an active school zone with a 25 mph speed limit at the time of the crash.
Investigators believe speed and intoxication were factors in the collision.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Bakersfield Police Department.
Later Friday evening, while an Eyewitness News crew was reporting from the same area, another crash happened near Columbus and Bucknell.
The crew had activated the pedestrian crossing signal and was walking through the crosswalk after a driver stopped to let them cross.
Photo of flashing lights at the crosswalk on Columbus Street and Bucknell Street where two crashes happened in two days. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
Video captured another vehicle approaching from behind and rear-ending the vehicle that had stopped.
The other driver then left the scene after the collision.
Eyewitness News is working to learn more about that second crash and will continue looking into crashes and safety concerns along this stretch of Columbus Street.