Kernville, CA – On the afternoon of Saturday, September 19, 2026, a suspected DUI single-vehicle collision resulted in the death of a 38-year-old Onyx man and left a passenger with major injuries, according to KGET.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 1:11 PM on Sierra Way north of James Road, a mountainous roadway winding along the Kern River canyon.
Authorities said the man was driving a blue 2019 Ford Super Duty pickup northbound on Sierra Way at an unknown speed when, for reasons still unknown, the vehicle veered off the roadway and struck the ascending canyon wall to the east, causing it to overturn multiple times.
The driver was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The front-right passenger sustained major injuries and was transported to Kern Medical.
Drugs and alcohol appear to have been factors in the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact CHP Bakersfield.
Kernville DUI Accidents and Personal Injury Claims
California law prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and a driver who causes a fatal crash while impaired may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing his estate’s share of liability for the resulting death.
The passenger injured in this accident may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver’s insurance, which can provide compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages associated with the collision.
For more information on personal injury claims, visit MaisonLaw.com.
