BAKERSFIELD, CA — A fatal motorcycle crash on I-5 near Grapevine left one rider dead and another seriously injured on Sunday morning, October 5, 2025. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the crash was caused by an SUV attempting an illegal U-turn on the busy freeway.
At around 11:30 a.m., two motorcyclists were heading southbound in the fast lane when a SUV in another lane tried to make a U-turn through a “turn-thru” area — a maneuver that is not permitted for public vehicles. The SUV turned directly in front of the motorcycles, and both riders collided with the vehicle, unable to avoid the impact.
The collision forced authorities to halt all traffic in the area as CHP officers conducted their investigation.
Emergency crews responded immediately. One of the motorcyclists was airlifted to Kern Medical with major injuries, while the other was transported by ground ambulance to the same hospital.
Later, the Kern County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased rider as 41-year-old Ángel Barraza García of Paramount, California.
All occupants of the SUV were unharmed. The CHP reminded drivers that turn-thru openings on highways are reserved for official and emergency vehicles only, and performing illegal U-turns in these areas can have devastating, even fatal, consequences.
