US, Bakersfield: Bakersfield Driver Leaves Scene After SUV Crashes in The Kern River Canyon.

Bakersfield, United States - August 23, 2026 08/22/2026 11:20 pm GMT-0700 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A single-vehicle crash prompted a search for a driver late this evening on Highway 178 near Lower Richbar. The traffic collision was reported around 11:11 p.m. after a dark-colored SUV crashed into a wall. Initial information indicated a possible occupant may have been trapped inside the vehicle, and an ambulance was dispatched to the scene. Other drivers reportedly saw the driver walking westbound away from the crashed SUV along Highway 178. It remains unclear whether the driver has been located. The Kern County Fire Department and California Highway Patrol searched the surrounding area for a possible ejected occupant but did not locate anyone. The California Highway Patrol and Kern County Sheriff's Department are handling the incident.