Bakersfield, CA : Man killed, more hurt in crashes involving suspected DUI driver on Panama Road on Saturday night, September 10, 2016

A 58-year-old Lamont man was killed and others injured Saturday night when a suspected drunken driver collided with several vehicles on Panama Road east of Bakersfield, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The suspected drunken driver, 28-year-old Israel Ramirez of Bakersfield, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, the CHP said in a news release

At about 9 p.m. Saturday, Ramirez was driving a 1996 Isuzu pickup westbound on Panama east of Cottonwood Road behind a 2001 Ford Mustang, the CHP said. It said when Ramirez attempted to pass the Mustang, he sideswiped the left rear side of a 2008 Mercedes being driven eastbound by 29-year-old Lourdes Bautista of Bakersfield.

The Mercedes, the CHP said, spun around and hit the driver's side of the Mustang, causing it to veer out of control and off the north side of the road. Ramirez continued westbound and then sideswiped an eastbound Toyota Camry that had been behind the Mercedes, it said. The Camry stopped on the south side of Panama.

The CHP said the Isuzu then overturned and slid on its roof westbound before colliding with a Mitsubishi Mirage whose driver had stopped on the south side of the road when he saw the Isuzu approaching.

The driver of the Mustang, whose name has not been released, died at the scene, according to the CHP. Ramirez was taken to Kern Medical Center with major injuries and arrested on suspicion of DUI, the agency said.

Bautista suffered moderate injuries and was taken to KMC, according to the CHP. Estela Vidaurri, a 48-year-old Lamont woman in the Mustang, was taken to KMC with undisclosed injuries.

Source :
Man killed, more hurt in crashes involving suspected DUI driver