BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A 47-year-old man who was killed in a possible distracted driving crash has been identified.
According to CHP, around 5:45 a.m. on Thursday, February 7, 47-year-old Robert Matthew Espinoza of Delano was driving a 1995 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck at a high rate of speed in the #2 lane of southbound SR-99 north of 7th Standard Road when, for an unknown reason, the pickup truck veered into the #3 lane and crashed into the back of a big rig trailer that was traveling 55-60 mph. CHP says the impact was so strong that the majority of the truck became lodged under the trailer.
CHP says Espinoza was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the big rig was not injured in the crash.
CHP says they do not believe drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in the crash, however they do believe distracted driving may have contributed to the crash.
