DELANO, California — Two young people lost their lives and another was seriously injured early Thursday morning after a devastating single-vehicle crash in Delano. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the rollover occurred around 12:28 a.m. on October 16 along Woollomes Avenue, just west of Wallace Road.
Investigators said a 21-year-old man was driving a black Acura sedan eastbound at what appeared to be a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle. The car veered off the north edge of the roadway, striking several metal poles and a wooden power pole before coming to rest on a dirt shoulder. The impact caused severe damage, scattering debris across the area.
CHP officials confirmed that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle during the crash. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. A front-seat passenger, identified as 19-year-old Andru Luque Felix of Delano, also suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead despite efforts to save him.
A 19-year-old woman riding in the back seat survived but sustained moderate to major injuries. She was rushed to Kern Medical Center for treatment. Authorities have not released her name but said she is expected to recover.
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate what led to the crash. Speed is believed to be a major factor, but officers are also examining whether distraction, fatigue, or impairment may have played a role. Routine toxicology tests are being conducted as part of the investigation. Both lanes of Woollomes Avenue were closed for several hours as emergency crews cleared the wreckage and repaired damaged utility structures.
Local officials are urging drivers to slow down, buckle up, and stay alert, especially during nighttime hours when visibility is limited. The CHP extended condolences to the victims’ families, noting that the crash has deeply affected the Delano community, where both young men were well known. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Bakersfield Area CHP office.