An intersection accident in Kern County Tuesday night left one person dead, two people with moderate injuries, including a minor, and more than 2,000 southwest Bakersfield residents without power. Police suspect a local firefighter was driving under the influence of alcohol when he ran a red light, causing the deadly DUI collision.
According to ABC23 in Bakersfield, firefighter Mitchell Green, 30, was driving a red Ford pickup truck that collided with a gray Hyundai at Panama Lane and Ashe Road. Green suffered moderate injuries. The driver of the Hyundai, a minor, also suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Kern Medical Center. A passenger in the Hyundai, Michelle Marie Maxwell, died at the scene of the crash. The crash also damaged a live wire power pole, leaving several thousand residents in southwest Bakersfield without power. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the Bakersfield police traffic investigations unit at (661) 326-3967.
Please keep the family of Michelle Maxwell in your prayers as they cope with this untimely, heartbreaking loss. Our condolences go out to everyone who knew and loved her. We hope the young woman driving the Hyundai makes a full and speedy recovery.
If the facts reported by ABC23 are correct and Green was in fact driving under the influence, this accident is one more example of the devastating consequences of drinking and driving. While this crash remains under investigation, the family of Michelle Maxwell and the family of the driver of the Hyundai would likely benefit from consulting with an experienced California personal injury attorney. Although no amount of money could ever replace a life or undo the pain of an accident, an attorney can help protect the legal rights of the victims and ensure that they receive compensation for their injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one in a drunk driving accident.
Sources: ABC23, Bakersfield Now
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