BAKERSFIELD, CA— Authorities have confirmed that 22-year-old Andrés Ramirez, a resident of Arvin, was the young man who died in an off-road vehicle crash on November 22.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Ramirez was riding as a passenger in a 2017 Can-Am UTV when the driver lost control near the intersection of Rock Pile Road and Buena Vista Road. The vehicle veered off the roadway at high speed and crashed into two almond trees, coming to a stop after impact. Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:36 p.m.
The driver, a 20-year-old woman, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Kern Medical. No update on her condition has been released.
CHP stated that based on preliminary findings, drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors in the Arvin crash. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to determine the exact cause of the crash.