UPDATE (Oct. 17 11:54 a.m.) The victim of the fatal accident near Copus Road was identified as 29-year-old Edgar Tellez.
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Three people are in the hospital and two of them are severely injured after a crash on Old River Road on Saturday afternoon.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash happened at about 3:45 p.m. about a mile north of Copus Road. The vehicle reportedly lost control attempting to pass another vehicle at an unknown speed.
Two of the three people victims were evacuated by helicopter to Kern Medical Center with severe injuries. The third person was transported by ambulance with minor to moderate injuries.
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation.