Kern County, CA — June 2, 2025, one person was injured as the result of a commercial truck accident at 8:19 a.m. along Tejon Highway.

According to initial details about the accident, it took place at the intersection of Tejon Highway and Mountain View Road southeast of Bakersfield.

Investigators said that a Honda Accord was traveling in the area when it and a semi-truck somehow crossed paths. As a result, the two vehicles collided head-on. Due to this, the driver of the Honda reportedly had serious injuries.

No other injuries were reported. Investigations are ongoing at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Head-on collisions involving commercial trucks are among the most complex types of crashes—not just because of the force involved, but because they raise serious questions that can’t be answered by looking at the surface details alone. When two vehicles end up nose-to-nose, something went seriously wrong with lane position, timing, or visibility. But until more is known, it's critical not to assume fault based on the type of vehicle involved or who was hurt.

In situations like this, investigators should be focused on reconstructing the events that led to the impact. That starts with establishing where each vehicle was supposed to be and whether either one crossed the center line. But it doesn’t end there. The real value comes from digging into the “why.” Was one vehicle avoiding an obstacle? Was visibility compromised by glare or weather conditions? Was there a mechanical failure or an unexpected maneuver that left the other driver with no time to react?

For the commercial vehicle, evidence like engine control module (ECM) data, dash cam footage, and brake application records can help fill in the blanks. For both vehicles, the position of the impact, tire marks, and debris fields will be crucial in determining what happened and when. And because these crashes often happen in an instant, small details—like whether a curve in the road or sun angle played a role—can carry a lot of weight in the outcome.

In many of the cases I’ve handled, what initially appeared to be a straightforward head-on collision turned out to be far more complicated. Sometimes it was a misjudged turn. Other times, it came down to one vehicle drifting slightly out of position because of fatigue, distraction, or road conditions. That’s why it's essential to avoid premature conclusions and instead focus on gathering every piece of objective evidence available.

Key Takeaways

• Head-on crashes involving commercial trucks require close analysis of lane position, visibility, and reaction time.
• Objective data—like ECM records, dash cams, and scene evidence—is critical to understanding the cause.
• Investigators must consider external factors such as road layout, weather, and line of sight.
• Fault cannot be determined without a full reconstruction of the crash timeline and vehicle behavior.
• A thorough, fact-based investigation is the only way to identify what led to the collision—and whether it could have been avoided.