BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County Sheriff's Office released the name of the driver killed in a multi-vehicle accident on Highway 99 Thursday. Harvey Akio Taira, 63, was the operator of the vehicle that collided head on with another vehicle.

He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

According to the California Highway Patrol a Honda Civic driven by Taira was traveling southbound on northbound 99 when the vehicle crashed into a Nissan Armada. A Honda Accord was also struck and a Honda Odyssey was sideswiped.

Several other passengers were transported to hospitals with injuries ranging from moderate to major, including two children.