FRESNO, Calif. — A series of crashes was reported in the Bakersfield area Wednesday morning during the first winter storm of the 2019-2020 season.
Moderate to heavy rain was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) around 6:00 a.m. Weather radar showed a storm building in the Bakersfield area with heavy downpours in the morning and rain continuing on and off through Wednesday morning.
Moderate to locally heavy precipitation continues across Kern Co. While very light snow has fallen on Interstate 5 and Highway 58, accumulating snow is being reported above 5000 feet. Pine Mountain Club has seen 8 inches with lighter amounts around the Tehachapi area. #cawx
— NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) November 20, 2019
CHP officers were called to several spin-outs along Hwy. 99, where heavy construction has been ongoing for more than a year; several on- and off-ramps were closed because of roadwork.
A Kern Co. Sheriff’s deputy was involved in a crash while it rained Wednesday.
According to the CHP, the deputy was traveling southbound on Hwy. 99 when a pickup entering the highway from an on-ramp lost control in the rain and spun out.
The deputy was not able to stop and hit the spinning truck, pushing it into another truck.
The deputy received minor injuries and was taken to Kern Medical Hospital.
The southbound side of Hwy. 99 at the Interstate 5 split was partially closed due to flooding near the Grapevine around 8:00 a.m.
The CHP Office at Fort Tejon shut down Lebec Rd. near Frazier Park around 8:00 a.m. due to snow; several vehicles became stuck in snow prior to the road closure.
PG&E reported more than 5,000 people without power in the northwest Bakersfield area Wednesday morning.
