Published: July 22, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Bakersfield, CA) – A 17-year-old girl walking along Union Avenue in Bakersfield died late Saturday after she was struck by a vehicle, according to the Kern County coroner's office.
The coroner reported that the teenager was hit at 10:45 p.m. while she was in the 3400 block of Union Avenue. She was taken for treatment but died from her injuries 23 minutes later at Kern Medical.
The coroner's office released details of the incident on Tuesday. Additional information about the circumstances of the collision was not included in the report.
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the Union Avenue Pedestrian Collision
When a pedestrian is struck and killed, investigators typically work to reconstruct where each party was positioned in the moments before impact, along with speed, lighting, and visibility. In California, the rules governing right-of-way between drivers and people on foot are set out in several Vehicle Code provisions. Under Vehicle Code section 21950, a driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, while a pedestrian carries a duty of due care. Where a person crosses outside of a crosswalk, Vehicle Code section 21954 requires the pedestrian to yield to vehicles close enough to be an immediate hazard, yet it expressly preserves the driver's independent obligation to exercise care. Because the available report does not describe how or where the teenager was walking, which provision matters most here is not something that can be determined from the facts released so far.
Investigators commonly also assess vehicle speed. The Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, prohibits driving faster than is reasonable and prudent given conditions such as visibility and roadway width. If evidence were to show a statutory violation that contributed to the death, Evidence Code section 669 can create a presumption of negligence when the violation causes the kind of harm the law was meant to prevent to someone the law protects. These are general frameworks only; no finding of fault can be drawn from what has been publicly reported.
Civil liability, if any, would rest on ordinary negligence principles. Civil Code section 1714 makes a person responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care, and Civil Code section 1431.2 allocates non-economic damages according to each party's share of fault. Because a life was lost, California's wrongful-death statute, Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, identifies which surviving family members may bring a claim, and Code of Civil Procedure section 377.30 governs a related survival action. The measure of recoverable damages is set by Civil Code section 3333.
What Families Can Do
Families who have lost a loved one in a pedestrian collision can take a few practical steps. Requesting the official traffic-collision report, preserving any dashcam or nearby surveillance footage, and photographing the roadway and lighting conditions can help preserve evidence before it disappears. It is also worth noting the deadlines that apply: Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 generally allows two years to file a personal-injury or wrongful-death claim, and Code of Civil Procedure section 352 can toll that period for a minor, though special rules and shorter windows may apply where a public entity is involved. Grieving relatives do not have to sort through these questions alone. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A California pedestrian accident attorney at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. GNEWS_CA_PED – Teen pedestrian dies after being struck by a vehicle along Union Avenue: https://www.bakersfield.com/news/teen-pedestrian-dies-after-being-struck-by-a-vehicle-along-union-avenue/article_6653c89c-263e-43c3-86c4-b605bedda0c7.html
