KERN COUNTY, CA — October 9, 2026 Francisco Javier Pantoja Juarez, a 38-year-old resident of Arvin, died following a two-vehicle collision at Wheeler Road and Creekside Drive in Kern County, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The crash occurred at approximately 6:44 p.m. on October 9, 2026. Pantoja Juarez was riding as a passenger in a Honda CR-V when it collided with a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
According to the initial account from CHP investigators, the pickup truck made an unsafe turn and subsequently lost control. The vehicle crossed the broken yellow center lines and entered the northbound lane, where it struck the Honda.
Pantoja Juarez was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities indicated that alcohol and/or drugs may have played a role in the collision. The investigation is needed to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash and determine potential responsibility.
