This footage was filmed and produced 16 March 2024.

On March 16, 2024, at approximately 11:35 pm, Bakersfield Police Department officers were dispatched to the intersection of South Sterling Road and Alto Place regarding a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a horse and rider. Officers arrived and located the adult male rider down in the roadway suffering from fatal injuries. They additionally located the horse in the roadway suffering from major injuries. The rider was pronounced deceased at the scene by Kern County Fire Department personnel. Based on the extent of injuries to the horse, its obvious suffering, and the extended response time of a veterinarian, officers determined the most humane course of action was to euthanize the horse at the scene. The preliminary investigation revealed the adult male driver of a pickup truck was driving south in the 1300 block of South Sterling Street when his vehicle collided with the horse which was being ridden in the southbound lane of travel. The driver of the pickup truck remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation. Alcohol, drugs, or speed do not appear to be factors in the collision. The 1300 block of South Sterling Street is a north/south
oadway with one lane of travel in each direction.

The identity of the decedent will be released by the Kern County Coroner’s Office. This is an ongoing investigation.