 (1).png "Vehicle engulfed in fire kills three in multiple-vehicle crash on Highway 99 north of Bakersfield")
Vehicle engulfed in fire kills three in multiple-vehicle crash on Highway 99 north of Bakersfield
Three people were killed in a multiple-vehicle crash early Sunday on Highway 99 in Kern County, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The crash involving three vehicles happened around 12:45 a.m. Sunday on Highway 99 north of 7th Standard Road outside Bakersfield when one driver going north on the southbound lanes of Highway 99, said the CHP.
According to the CHP, the crash involved a 2022 Honda Accord driven by a woman with two passengers, a 2019 BMW 530I driven by a 44-year old man, and a 2022 Chevrolet Colorado truck driven by a 41-year-old woman with a passenger. The CHP did not disclose which of the three drivers was traveling the wrong direction.
The Honda Accord became engulfed in flames. All three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene, said the CHP.
The identities, ages, and places of residence of the Honda driver and the passengers have not been released. Neither have the identities of the people in the other two vehicles.
The BMW driver, traveling alone, suffered major injuries and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. The occupants in the Chevrolet truck suffered minor injuries, said the CHP.
The CHP Bakersfield Area office is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or may have relevant information to call 661-396-6600.
It has not been determined whether the use of alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in this crash, said the CHP.
This story was originally published August 17, 2026 at 5:29 PM.
Related Stories from Fresno Bee
The Fresno Bee
María G. Ortiz-Briones is a reporter and photographer for McClatchy’s Vida en el Valle and the Fresno Bee. She covers issues that impact the Latino community in the Central Valley. She is a regular contributor to La Abeja, The Bee’s free weekly newsletter on Latino issues. | María G. Ortiz-Briones es reportera y fotógrafa de Vida en el Valle de McClatchy y el Fresno Bee. Ella cubre temas que impactan a la comunidad latina en el Valle Central. Es colaboradora habitual de La Abeja, el boletín semanal gratuito de The Bee sobre temas latinos.
Support my work with a digital subscription