Police say the collision happened during a right turn
TAFT, Calif. — A man riding an electric bicycle died Wednesday morning after a collision with a utility bucket truck at Kern Street, which carries Highway 33 through Taft, and 10th Street.
Taft police were called to the intersection at approximately 10:47 a.m. Officers said the truck had been traveling east on Kern Street and stopped for a red signal at 10th Street. The bicyclist was also traveling east, approaching the intersection on the south sidewalk.
The collision occurred as the truck driver began turning right onto 10th Street, according to the preliminary police account. Police said the rider was ejected and died at the scene.
The preliminary account does not decide fault
Police have not announced a citation, arrest or final determination assigning responsibility for the crash. Describing where the truck and bicycle were traveling is not the same as concluding which person had the legal right of way or whether either person violated a traffic rule.
Investigators said alcohol or drugs do not appear to have contributed. That narrows one part of the inquiry; it does not resolve questions involving speed, visibility, signal timing, turning clearance, roadway design or the actions immediately before impact.
The truck driver’s name, the rider’s name and the company or agency operating the utility vehicle were not identified in the information available Wednesday evening. The rider should not be identified through online speculation before authorities notify family and release confirmed information.
Read the source: City of Taft: Official Police Department contact information ↗
Police are asking witnesses to come forward
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has relevant video is asked to contact the Taft Police Department. The city lists the department’s main number as 661-763-3101.
Useful evidence can include dash-camera recordings, nearby security video and firsthand observations of the signal, the turn and the vehicles’ positions. Witnesses should preserve original files and provide them directly to investigators rather than editing or circulating them online.
The earlier road closure has ended, but the fatal collision remains under investigation. What’s the Scoop With Broach will update this report if police release a final finding, the appropriate authority identifies the rider or officials announce changes at the intersection.
Read the source: California Highway Patrol: Vulnerable road-user and bicycle-safety resources ↗
Road safety requires attention to people outside vehicles
California Highway Patrol classifies people walking and riding bicycles as vulnerable road users because they lack the physical protection of a passenger vehicle. The agency provides bicycle-safety education for riders and asks drivers to anticipate people using the roadway around intersections and turns.
General safety guidance cannot explain or assign blame for this specific crash. Its value is preventive: drivers should check mirrors and blind spots before turning, while riders should remain visible, obey traffic controls and avoid assuming that a driver has seen them.
The accompanying image is an authentic 2010 photograph of Taft City Hall licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. It establishes the community setting but does not show Kern and 10th streets, the people involved, the utility truck, the bicycle or Wednesday’s emergency response.
Read the source: California DMV: Bicyclist and pedestrian safety guidance ↗
Sources and further reading
BakersfieldNow: Taft police account of the fatal e-bike and utility-truck collision ↗
City of Taft: Official Police Department contact information ↗
California Highway Patrol: Vulnerable road-user and bicycle-safety resources ↗
California DMV: Bicyclist and pedestrian safety guidance ↗
Wikimedia Commons: Taft City Hall photograph and CC BY 3.0 license ↗