BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — This is the spot where an 8-year-old boy and his father were eating lunch when a suspected drunk driver came barreling through these fences off California Avenue and hit, killing the boy. Here's what we know about the case so far.
"El Nino, El Nino…" It was a chaotic scene as people cried out that a child had been hit by a pickup truck.
It happened Monday afternoon at the corner of East California Avenue and Haley Street. Police say a black Nissan pickup veered off the road, plowed through a fence, and into a parking lot where a food truck was set up.
An 8-year-old boy and his father were nearby when the truck came crashing through. The father was hospitalized with moderate injuries — and police say the boy died Tuesday morning.
Locals in the area tell me they won’t ever forget what happened that afternoon. Ramzi Ahmed, is the Owner of Cali Discount and he says, "I started hearing all the commotion outside, so I walked out and saw the aftermath of the accident. I came around the corner and saw the guy in his truck right next to my building. The power line was on the ground and everything. It was just really sad to see stuff like that."
Police arrested the driver, 33-year-old Andres Serna. He was booked on six felony charges. Police say Serna has two prior DUI convictions — something Bakersfield City Councilman Andrae Gonzales calls concerning. "There's been nationwide reports that show that Bakersfield's one of the leading communities when it comes to drunk driving, and that's completely embarrassing and completely unacceptable. We have to get our act together as a community." Gonzales said.
Witnesses say the driver of the pickup tried to flee the scene but was physically detained by people there.
Officers say this is just one of many cases they’ve responded to this year. Bakersfield police say they’ve made nearly 600 DUI arrests so far in 2025 and have investigated 11 DUI-related crashes and fatalities — about 100 more arrests than this time last year.
Community members say they feel blessed for another day of life, reminded of how quickly things can change. "I do have kids, and I got very emotional to where I had to come back into the store and cry a little bit because I see the little kid and I think of my kids." Ahmed said.
Police are asking anyone with information about this crash to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.
The suspect is set to be arraigned Wednesday, November 5. He is facing six felony charges, including second-degree murder.
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