BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Court docs obtained by 23ABC show that 50-year-old Jerry Hughes admitted to texting his wife just prior to colliding with another vehicle near the Kern Valley State Prison in February.
According to CHP, around 6:02 a.m. on February 19, CHP received a call for a major crash on Wasco-Pond Road and Garces Highway.
CHP reported in February that Hughes was driving a 2008 Chevy pickup truck northbound on Wasco-Pond Road approaching a two-way stop at the intersection of SR-155.
A 41-year-old man from Delano was driving a 1996 Nissan pickup truck westbound on SR-155 approaching the intersection. Hughes then entered the intersection and failed to yield to the right of way of the Nissan. CHP says both trucks collided in the intersection.
The driver of the Nissan suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said that Hughes has been employed with CDCR since May 1999. At this time, the investigation is still on-going and Hughes has not been charged.
