BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A 67-year-old man accused of hitting and killing a 17-year-old Bakersfield girl with a vehicle on Union Avenue is set to be arraigned next month after a judge held him to answer on all charges on Thursday, according to court records.
Jeff Ferguson was arrested on August 5 following an investigation into a July 18 crash that left 17-year-old Love Icelyn Dixon dead. Dixon was injured in the crash and later died at the hospital.
Ferguson faces a felony charge of hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, along with misdemeanor charges related to driving on a suspended or revoked license for DUI and driving while addicted to drugs.
Bakersfield police said officers were called at around 10:45 p.m. on July 18 to the 3600 block of Union Avenue for a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.
When officers arrived, they found Dixon down in the road with severe injuries, police said. She was taken to the hospital, where she later died.
Police said their investigation determined Dixon had gotten out of a vehicle that had stopped in the No. 1 lane of northbound Union Avenue when she was struck by another vehicle traveling north in the No. 2 lane. Police said the driver of the vehicle involved did not stop and drove away from the scene immediately after the crash.
Investigators used Flock Safety cameras to help identify the suspect vehicle, police said, calling the cameras “invaluable.” Police said further investigation identified a possible suspect and led to a search warrant for the vehicle and the suspect’s home.
The vehicle was found with damage consistent with the crash and physical evidence on the front of the vehicle, police said.
Ferguson is set to be arraigned on Sept. 2, 2026. He pleaded not guilty on August 7.