Coroner identifies Bakersfield man who died from heat exposure on Hwy. 58 on-ramp

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified a man who died from heat exposure as 53-year-old Hannes Michael Wood of Bakersfield.

The coroner’s report said on July 18, 2026, at around 5:14 p.m., Wood was found on the westbound Highway 58 on-ramp, near H Street.

He was found dead at the scene.

According to the coroner’s report, an autopsy was conducted; the cause of death was determined to be from methamphetamine toxicity and environmental heat exposure. The manner was an accident.