BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Senior Reporter Veronica Morley rings in the new year on the streets of Bakersfield, riding with Bakersfield police searching for 'bad actors'
- Veronica Morley took a ride with BPD on New Year's Eve in Bakersfield, to witness the revelry and tragedy
- One person was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Ming Ave and three other were sent to the hospital with major injuries.
The start of the new year is often a time for celebration, but it seems like almost every year, for some in our community, it begins in tragedy.
In the early hours of 2025, one man was killed during a crash off of Ming Avenue, police suspecting alcohol to be a factor. While there were more patrols on the road, it was still a challenge for law enforcement to respond to every call.
Senior Reporter Veronica Morley joined Bakersfield Police on New Year's Eve to learn more about how they handle a night like this.
On a night like New Year's Eve, Bakersfield Police Lt. Joseph Galland said he prefers using saturation patrols over DUI checkpoints. While there's a need for both, he said with this much activity across the city, officers need to be able to cover greater distances and respond where they're needed.
With the clock ticking down to midnight, officers focused on spotting signs of dangerous driving or potential DUIs. Common indicators include erratic driving patterns, such as following too closely or weaving between lanes. Many traffic stops resulted in safety warnings, but some led to more serious investigations.
One such stop occurred when an officer suspected a driver was under the influence after refusing a breath test. The driver was taken to the hospital for a blood draw, which can take less than 30 minutes, allowing officers to get back on the streets.
Despite a nearly doubled presence of officers, the department only had seven traffic patrols, which Galland noted cover the city’s roughly 150-square miles. “For around, what, 400,000 people, that’s a lot,” Galland said.
As the night wore on, reports of crashes and collisions began to increase. Officers were dispatched to Wetherley Drive, where a silver Lexus crashed into several vehicles before the driver fled on foot. Police suspect alcohol may have played a role, but without a blood-alcohol test, investigators will need to rely on witness testimony, surveillance footage, and other evidence to build the case.
Hit-and-run investigator Austin Haycock noted that DUI charges can still be pursued even without a blood test. He said recently he's worked five DUI investigations without having a blood test, one of which already gained a conviction. "It's so frustrating. I made it a point not to go out anywhere to avoid a crash."
“It’s frustrating,” Haycock said. “But we’re still able to hold people accountable using all the tools we have.”
One of the victims of the hit-and-run, Karina Akers, was frustrated when officers contacted her about her damaged car. She told Galland she'd come home and after and left her car parked specifically to avoid an New Year's incident.
Despite progress in raising awareness, Galland remains concerned about the high number of drivers engaging in dangerous behavior.
“There’s no two ways about it: that behavior causes someone to get killed,” he said.
As for the deadly crash on Ming Avenue, Galland suspects alcohol played a role. The crash killed one person in the car and sent three others to the hospital with major injuries. Galland noted the force of the crash was so strong it ripped elements of the engine from the vehicle.
“Speed, late reaction times, and poor judgment are a dangerous combination,” Galland said. “It’s never just a car crash.”
Witnesses reported seeing a white vehicle drive through the debris, but Galland believes the vehicle was not involved in the crash itself.
As of now, it’s too soon to determine the final number of DUI arrests and reported crashes over the holiday weekend. However, Galland expressed pride in the efforts of his officers to keep the roads as safe as possible during one of the most dangerous nights of the year.
Stay in Touch with Us Anytime, Anywhere:
