UPDATED (FEB. 20 @ 11:33 AM): The Kern County Sheriff's Office identified the man killed in the accident as 59year-old Ricardo Martin Garcia. No additional information was provided.
UPDATE (12:35 PM): All lanes of westbound Hwy. 46 have been reopened.
UPDATE (11:00 AM): The California Highway Patrol confirmed that one person died in a crash involving 4 vehicles on Highway 46 near Root and Smith avenues Wednesday morning.
According to the CHP, a Lexus driving eastbound on Highway 46 at a high rate of speed and attempted to pass a Honda SUV driven by 44-year-old Jorgelina Garcia when it crashed head-on into a Freightliner semi-truck hauling a load of hay. The impact of the collision forced the Lexus back into the path of Garcia's SUV causing a second collision. The Lexus ended up on the shoulder of the highway where it caught fire.
A Toyota pick-up truck driven by 58-year-old Maria Loza de Lopez crashed into the load of hay spilled by the semi-truck
The driver of the Lexus was pronounced dead at the scene. He has not been identified at this time. Garcia, Loza de Lopez, and the driver of the semi-truck, 50-year-old Amos Brown, were not injured.
At this time, it is unknown if alcohol or drugs contributed to this crash.
Highway 46 is currently closed in both directions for cleanup and investigation.
UPDATE: A HAZMAT team has been called in to clean up a diesel and oil spill of about 50 gallons on the roadway after the crash, according to CHP. No waterways or wildlife have been affected, said CHP.
According to the California Highway Patrol, one person was killed in a crash Wednesday morning involving a semi-truck carrying hay and westbound lanes on Hwy. 46 are closed at Smith Street.
- RELATED: More Traffic Information
Some of the semi's load of hay has spilled into the roadway and traffic is starting to be diverted at Hwy. 46 and Poplar Avenue, according to CHP.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
