Driver Arrested for DUI, Murder After 2-Vehicle Traffic Collision Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Hospitalized

BAKERSFIELD, CA, Aug. 18 (KNN) — A driver was arrested for DUI and murder after a two-vehicle major injury traffic collision left one person fatally injured and one hospitalized Thursday night.

At approximately 10:39 p.m., Aug. 17, officers with the Bakersfield Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of California and Chester Avenues for an injury traffic collision involving two vehicles.

Once on scene, officers discovered an adult female driver and adult male passenger of a sedan suffering from major injuries and both were transported to a local hospital, reported Sgt. Tipton in a press release from the department.

Responding Bakersfield firefighters are seen in Key News Network video from the location working to extricate the trapped patients from the vehicle.

The passenger was later pronounced deceased and the driver is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, according to Tipton. The adult male driver of a pickup truck was uninjured and remained at the scene. He was later transported to Kern Medical Center for further examination.

Bakersfield PD revealed in their preliminary investigation that the sedan was traveling northbound Chester Avenue and the pickup truck was traveling westbound California Avenue when the collision occurred in the intersection. Alcohol appeared to be a contributing factor in the collision.

Bakersfield PD officers assigned to the Major Collision Investigation Team responded to investigate the collision.

Officers with the MCI Team announced on Friday it was determined the driver of the pickup truck identified as Luis Esquivel, 48, of Bakersfield, was under the influence of alcohol. Esquivel was arrested for charges associated with driving under the influence, murder, driving with a suspended license and traffic violations.

The identity of the deceased will be released by the Kern County Coroner’s Office.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.

Alex Rodarte, Video Journalist / KNN