Crystal Louise Spores, 34: a Bakersfield woman struck on a Sunday evening by a driver who left before officers arrived
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (September 6, 2026): A 34-year-old Bakersfield woman was struck and killed while crossing South Union Avenue in the 2500 block at about 7:31 p.m. Sunday, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. Police said she was crossing outside a marked crosswalk when a northbound vehicle hit her and the driver left before officers arrived, as reported by Bakersfield Now. Bakersfield Fire Department personnel pronounced her dead at the scene. The Kern County Coroner’s Office released her identity as Crystal Louise Spores, 34, of Bakersfield.
Using video footage, police identified the suspect vehicle as a white Ford pickup and located it in the 3600 block of Cottonwood Road, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. Police said Guadalupe Hernandez, 36, was the sole occupant of the Ford at the time, admitted to being the driver, and was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run causing death, per Bakersfield Now and reporting citing KGET. An arrest is not a conviction, and Mr. Hernandez is presumed innocent unless the Kern County District Attorney proves the case in court. The investigation and the prosecutor’s review continue.
Liability for Kern County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Deaths
California Vehicle Code § 20001 (hit-and-run causing injury or death) requires any driver involved in a collision causing injury or death to stop immediately, provide identifying information and render reasonable assistance, and makes leaving a felony. California Vehicle Code § 21954 (pedestrians outside crosswalks) requires a pedestrian away from a crosswalk to yield, while preserving each driver’s duty of due care toward any pedestrian on the roadway. California Vehicle Code § 22350 (basic speed law) governs speed on a busy urban arterial. California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 (wrongful death) allows Ms. Spores’s spouse, domestic partner, children or certain dependents to bring a civil claim, which proceeds separately from any criminal case.
- The criminal case and the civil claim are separate: A criminal prosecution can order restitution, but it does not compensate a family for lost support or the loss of a mother, daughter or sister. Only a civil action does.
- Speed and attention: Police have not released a speed. Video, vehicle data and the coroner’s injury findings are how experts estimate impact speed and reaction.
- Lighting and crossing conditions: The collision happened at about 7:31 p.m. Street lighting, crossing spacing and pedestrian volume in the 2500 block are relevant to fault and to any roadway claim.
- Insurance on the pickup: Whether the pickup carried liability coverage, and whether it was driven with the owner’s permission, determines which policies respond.
Even with an arrest, a family can be left with no insurance to look to, because drivers who flee are more likely to be uninsured or driving without permission. Uninsured motorist coverage on any household auto policy frequently applies when a pedestrian is killed by an uninsured or unidentified driver, and it should be reviewed immediately, since those policies carry short notice deadlines. A wrongful death action can seek funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, household services and the loss of love, companionship, care and society.
Steps to Take After a Kern County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Death
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrians account for roughly a quarter of all traffic deaths in California each year.
- Request the Bakersfield Police report: Ask for the collision report number and the completed report, including the diagram, video log and supplemental narratives.
- Ask about the video evidence: Police said video identified the pickup. Request it early so the original recordings are retained rather than overwritten at the source.
- Preserve the Ford pickup: Once released from evidence, the truck may be sold or repaired. A preservation letter protects the physical and data evidence a civil case depends on.
- Review every household auto policy: Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can apply to a pedestrian killed by an uninsured driver, and notice requirements are measured in weeks, not years.
- Track the criminal case: Families have rights to notice of hearings and to be heard, and the criminal file often develops evidence useful to the civil claim.
In California, a wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the date of death under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If the lighting, crossing design or maintenance of South Union Avenue becomes part of the claim, a government claim must be presented to the responsible public entity within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating Kern County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Deaths
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Crystal Louise Spores. What does the video footage that led police to the white Ford pickup show about speed, lighting and the moments before impact on South Union Avenue? Was the pickup insured at the time, and what coverage exists for a family left without answers after a driver leaves the scene?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck or pedestrian accident anywhere in California, our personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on September 16, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on September 6, 2026.
