The Kern County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim in a deadly crash as Betty Jean Hollins, 70.
A male child was also injured in the crash that involved five cars at the intersection of Rosedale Highway and Coffee road Monday night. The identity of the boy has not been released.
A friend of Trinity Chapel Church of God in Christ tells 23ABC that Betty Jean Hollins is the wife of Pastor Willie Hollins. The church is located at 1028 O St. in Bakersfield.
Betty Jean Hollins was also newly appointed in St. Louis as the Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women for the California Valley Jurisdiction Churches of God in Christ.
Friends tell 23ABC she was a teacher at Franklin Elementary School for more than 20 years. She also worked at Mercy Hospital and was a Sunday school superintendent at her former church for more than 30 years.
She and her husband recently celebrated their twelve year wedding anniversary.
BPD spokesperson Jeff Saso says the crash happened around 8:10 p.m. The Bakersfield Police Department is now saying that a man was driving a black Honda Sedan and was traveling eastbound on Rosedale when he struck the back of a green Hyundai SUV.
Hollins and the boy were in the SUV when it led a chain reaction involving three other cars. The boy was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Police saying that drugs and alcohol do not seem to be a factor at this time, but the investigation is continuing.
One person was detained at the scene.
