Bakersfield, United States - December 22, 2024 12/22/2024 05:05 am (GMT-0800) LEBEC, Calif. – Update: One person appears to be dead inside the semi-truck. Off the record, a law enforcement official stated drones show at least one person is dead. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A semi-truck crashed into a canal early Sunday morning on the northbound side of Interstate 5, approximately three-quarters of a mile south of Laval Road East in Kern County. The incident was reported at 5:05 a.m. Kern County Fire initially responded to the scene, but the operation was later handed over to Kern Search and Rescue for a possible recovery operation. The status of any occupants inside the truck remains unknown, and it has not been confirmed whether there were any fatalities. California Office of Emergency Services was dispatched to assess the possibility of a hazardous materials leak into the canal. No further details are available at this time. The situation is ongoing. Agencies involved include Kern County Fire, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Cal OES, Fish and Wildlife, and CHP.