BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — There have been six deadly crashes in Bakersfield the last two weeks, resulting in nine deaths total. The California Highway Patrol however said this number is down compared to last year.
CHP Bakersfield said since the start of this year it has investigated 19 separate deadly crashes. That's down from 21 total deadly crashes this time last year.
"Unfortunately people are still making bad choices when they're out there on the roadways which is costing their lives," said CHP spokesperson Robert Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said in the last few weeks they've seen a high number of drivers speeding or making dangerous decisions. The latest coming Wednesday morning when a crash involving a suspected drunk driver turned deadly.
Two of the deadly crashes this year, according to Rodriguez, stemmed from drivers failing to yield to stop signs.
Rodriguez also noted that two crashes this year took place at the same intersection off S. Fairfax Road and Bear Mountain Boulevard. Those two crashes happening only two weeks apart.
"Right now, work is picking up and it's early in the morning, so those crashes that early in the morning sometimes people don't expect a lot of traffic to be out there," Rodriguez said. "But if there's a stop sign that's in place, please make sure that you obey that signage."