UPDATE (1:23 p.m.): The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man killed in the crash as 21-year-old Lancaster resident Christopher Lewis Durr.
UPDATE (2/10): A Lancaster man was killed after crashing his vehicle into a Peterbilt truck carrying two dump trailers hauling dry asphalt.
The California Highway Patrol said at around 2:06 p.m. on Tuesday, it received a call about a crash on Copus Road west of Highway 99. When officers arrived, they found a 21-year-old man who had suffered fatal injuries as well as the 56-year-old truck driver, who had minor injuries.
The department said a Kia Rio was heading westbound on Copus Road while the big rig was traveling eastbound. For an unknown reason, the Kia drifted into the eastbound lane and into the path of the truck.
The vehicles collided, causing major damage to both the Kia and the Peterbilt, according to the CHP. It also caused the trailers to roll over and the dry asphalt to spill onto the roadway.
The driver of the Peterbilt was taken to Kern Medical for treatment while the driver of the Kia was pronounced deceased on scene, the department said.
Copus Road was closed in both directions from Highway 99 to Interstate 5 for about seven hours for investigation and roadway cleanup.
(2/9): BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — At least one person has been killed after an asphalt truck overturned on Copus Road just east of Interstate 5.
The California Highway Patrol said the accident happened shortly after 2 p.m. and has blocked at least one lane. This article will be updated once more information is available.
