NewsLocal News

Actions

DOCS: CDCR employee admits he was texting his wife prior to fatal crash

Posted
and last updated

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.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Wednesday

09/17/2025

Cloudy

-° / 76°

1%

Thursday

09/18/2025

Isolated Thunderstorms

84° / 69°

32%

Friday

09/19/2025

Partly Cloudy

86° / 69°

5%

Saturday

09/20/2025

Clear

89° / 69°

3%

Sunday

09/21/2025

Partly Cloudy

90° / 70°

2%

Monday

09/22/2025

Partly Cloudy

93° / 74°

16%

Tuesday

09/23/2025

Mostly Clear

89° / 69°

24%

Wednesday

09/24/2025

Clear

90° / 68°

3%