BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A wrong-way crash on southbound Highway 99 near 7th Standard Road early Sunday resulted in the deaths of a mother and her two daughters.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that units were dispatched to the scene at approximately 12:44 a.m. The collision involved a 2022 Honda Accord driven by 20-year-old Kylie Wetmore, a 2019 BMW 530i operated by a 44-year-old man, and a 2022 Chevrolet Colorado driven by a 41-year-old woman.
CHP authorities confirmed that all three occupants of the Honda were pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased individuals were identified by the Kern County Coroner's Office as 41-year-old Vanessa Sue Wetmore, 20-year-old Kylie Wetmore, and 16-year-old Kloie Wetmore, all residents of Bakersfield. The driver of the BMW sustained serious injuries, while the two occupants of the Chevrolet incurred minor injuries.
The crash resulted in a vehicle fire that engulfed the Honda. CHP is investigating which vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction. Authorities have not confirmed if alcohol or drugs played a role in the incident.
As a result of the accident, lane closures were enacted on southbound Highway 99 during the investigation and cleanup process. Further details are pending as the situation develops.