Nearly a week after a woman lost her life in an auto-pedestrian accident in Oildale, 3.5 miles to Bakersfield, California, the authorities revealed her identity. In updated accident reports released on Thursday, May 21st, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office disclosed the victim’s identity as Rosa Orellana, 91.
The accident that claimed the woman’s life occurred on Friday, May 15th, at about 5:30 p.m. The California Highway Patrol said that the collision happened on Merle Haggard Drive, east of McCray Street.
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Orellana was walking in the area when a pickup truck heading east on Merle struck her. She sustained fatal injuries, and the first responders pronounced her dead. The authorities did not provide any information about the truck driver or if he or she would get cited. The investigation remains active.
California has a high record of pedestrian deaths on its roadway, and the Office of Traffic Safety believes it is getting worse. With more people walking, and drivers failing to obey traffic rules, as seen in accident reports, auto-pedestrian accidents are on the rise and would keep climbing if not checked.
OTS advises drivers and pedestrians to work together in promoting safe behaviors on the road to protect themselves and those around them. Motorists should avoid speeding in residential, business, and school districts. Never drink and drive, operate cell phones, and always stop at crosswalks.
Pedestrians, on their part, should wear bright colors to make themselves visible and avoid texting while walking. Additionally, avoid crossing outside crosswalks, stick to the sidewalk, and look left-right-left before crossing.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Safety Watch’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.