Four people, including a paramedic supervisor and a firefighter, were injured in a suspected drunk driving incident north of Taft late Saturday, November 15th. The crash involved three vehicles and occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Highway 119 near Harrison Street.
The suspected drunk driver, identified as Fermin Garcia, 19, of Taft, was driving south on Highway 119 when his Chevy Astrovan swerved into oncoming traffic. Garcia sideswiped a 1998 Toyota Corolla and then struck a 2011 GMC Suburban in a head-on collision. The Suburban was a Hall Ambulance Paramedic Supervisor’s vehicle.
The driver of the Corolla, Santiago Torres, 20, of Taft, and the driver of the Suburban, Armando Lazaro, 33, of Bakersfield were taken to Kern Medical Center with serious injuries. The passenger in the Suburban, Kern County firefighter Adam Bickford, 32, of Fullerton, was also taken to Kern Medical Center, but with minor injuries.
Garcia was trapped inside his vehicle for more than 30 minutes. After firefighters rescued him, he was flown to Kern Medical Center with serious injuries. He was placed under arrest under suspicion of driving under the influence.
California State Route 119 was closed after the crash for two hours between Harrison Street and and Cedar Street for investigation and cleanup.
