One Dead After Truck Strikes Tree and Burns on Highway 99 Near Taft Highway

Fatal crash reported near the Taft Highway interchange

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — At least one person died Wednesday after a truck left southbound Highway 99 near Taft Highway, struck a tree and caught fire, according to California Highway Patrol information reported by BakersfieldNow.

The CHP incident entry placed the initial report at approximately 12:03 p.m. on September 16. The truck was described as fully involved in fire, and the Kern County coroner's office was requested. The public report did not identify the victim or describe the vehicle beyond calling it a truck.

One lane was closed during the emergency response

CHP's initial incident information said the number three lane of southbound Highway 99 was closed and warned drivers to expect delays. The incident no longer appeared among active Bakersfield-area calls when What’s the Scoop With Broach checked the CHP traffic page at 3:08 p.m.

Removal from the live incident list does not, by itself, confirm that every lane reopened or that the investigation ended. Drivers should check current CHP and Caltrans information before traveling through the interchange.

Cause and identity remain unconfirmed

Authorities had not publicly released the victim's name, the cause of the collision, the truck's direction of travel before it left the roadway or whether speed, impairment, distraction or a mechanical problem played any role.

The available report also did not say whether another vehicle was involved or whether anyone else was injured. Those details should remain unanswered until CHP or the Kern County coroner issues a formal update.

This is a developing report. What’s the Scoop With Broach will update the same article if authorities release the victim's identity, a preliminary collision sequence or a confirmed lane-reopening notice.

About the image

The accompanying image is an authentic June 2022 photograph by Wikimedia Commons contributor Coolcaesar showing construction at the Highway 99 and Highway 58 interchange in Bakersfield. The photographer licensed it under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.

The photograph provides local Highway 99 context only. It does not show Taft Highway, Wednesday's collision, the burned truck, emergency responders, evidence or the person who died, and its use does not imply endorsement by the photographer or Wikimedia Commons.