SHAFTER, CA, (March 22, 2026) — An 88-year-old woman, identified as Maria Cervantes Vasquez, died following a car crash in Shafter, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Authorities said Vasquez was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision at the intersection of West Lerdo Highway and Magnolia Avenue.
She was transported to Kern Medical Center for treatment but later succumbed to her injuries.
The crash remains under investigation.
The CHP will release a comprehensive report upon completing its investigation into the crash that claimed the life of Ms. Vasquez.
In the meantime, Candice Bond noted that incidents like this require an independent investigation by a qualified law firm to help preserve evidence and protect the rights of the victim’s family.
“In addition to the work conducted by law enforcement, an attorney can revisit key witnesses, review surveillance footage from the crash site, and obtain phone and text records of the responsible party,” said Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal and national analyst for Accident Injury News. “Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help guide a grieving family through this difficult time while safeguarding their legal rights and interests.”
Each year, approximately 36,000 people are killed and another 1.9 million are injured in motor vehicle crashes across the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding remains the leading cause of fatal crashes, followed by alcohol or drug impairment, failure to maintain lane position, failure to yield, and distracted driving.
The family members of Maria Cervantes Vasquez may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim. Relatives of wrongful death victims can seek compensation for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic accident.
“We understand the immense challenges families face after such a loss, and ensuring their rights are protected is essential,” said Stefano Formica, Of Counsel with Bond Legal. “A wrongful death attorney will remain informed on the official investigation and work to ensure that the family’s best interests are fully represented. Loved ones may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident.”
(This report is based on verified data - learn more on our About Us page.)
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Candice Bond free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Accident Injury News can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-986-7738 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
If you or a family member were injured or have lost a loved one in an accident and would like the official Accident Report, Bond Legal can offer their assistance.
Personal Injury Lawyers
Bond Legal works with Accident Injury News to provide these news updates because we are passionate about helping victims and their families and hold those who are responsible accountable to make our communities safer. If you would like us to help you and your family, please contact us through one of the methods below.
Hello, I am Candice Bond*, and the law firm of Bond Legal works closely with victims and their families impacted by a variety of accidents and tragedies.
If you or a family member were injured or have lost a loved one in an accident or incident contact us now.
We're available 24/7. Click to chat with a live representative now.
Bond Legal representatives are available 24/7.
866-986-7738
Personal Injury Lawyers
Bond Legal is organized as an LLC in Illinois and as a Professional Corporation in California. Bond Legal LLC lawyers are licensed in AL, AR, FL, GA, HI, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NM, NC, NY, OH, OK, OR, SC, TN, UT, WI, and WV. Bond Legal PC lawyers are licensed in CA, CO, IA, IL, TX, and WA. Legal services are limited to the foregoing states. *Candice Bond is licensed in CA, IA, IL, TX & WA only and can be contacted at 17500 Red Hill Ave. #100, Irvine, CA 92614, 949-988-7100, cmbond@bondlegalgroup.com. +Client may be responsible for costs and expenses. "Pay $0 Unless We Win For You," refers only to contingent fees charged by the attorney. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client. Some cases may be co-counseled with other lawyers. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This is a paid advertisement.
Loading...