A Kern County jury has found Cristian Escobar-Rodriguez guilty in a tragic drunk driving crash that killed one passenger and injured two others in Bakersfield.
The verdict was announced by the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, which confirmed Escobar-Rodriguez was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, multiple DUI-related charges, and driving without a license.
The case has drawn attention throughout Kern County as a stark warning about the dangers of impaired driving on local roads.
The crash occurred in the early hours of April 3, 2023, when Escobar-Rodriguez was speeding down East Belle Terrace in Bakersfield at around 1:58 a.m.
According to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, he lost control on a curve, drove over a canal, broke through a fence, and flipped the car twice before it landed on its side.
Escobar-Rodriguez had three passengers in the car. The front passenger suffered minor injuries, while one back passenger sustained major injuries. The other back passenger, Andrea Navarro, died at the scene, prosecutors stated.
Investigators revealed that Escobar-Rodriguez was driving 90 miles per hour just seconds before the crash, nearly doubling the posted 45 mile-per-hour speed limit.
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The road’s curve, where the crash happened, has a recommended speed of just 25 miles per hour.
Blood tests showed his blood alcohol concentration was 0.155 percent—almost twice the legal limit, according to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
“The decision to drive under the influence had tragic consequences,” said Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Russell. “Escobar-Rodriguez made a choice to drive under the influence. Tragically, that decision resulted in the loss of one life and injuries to two others.
For him, it has led to legal consequences that will alter his life forever. This incident serves as a reminder to our community – impaired driving has devastating consequences. We urge you to be responsible when getting behind the wheel.”
Escobar-Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2025, and could face up to 15 years and 8 months in prison.
