BAKERSFIELD, CA – Judith Deval, 40, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence following a fatal crash in central Bakersfield on October 16.
Police say Deval, who was talking on her cellphone while driving, failed to notice 8-year-old Ricardo Aguilar crossing the street. After striking the child, Deval stopped, but mistakenly left her car in reverse, driving over the child a second time.
Ricardo was taken to Kern Medical before being airlifted to another facility, where he was pronounced dead the next day. Deval was later arrested after a witness and phone data confirmed she was on her phone at the time of the Central Bakersfield crash.
Pedestrian accidents remain a significant concern in California, with distracted driving being a leading factor. Despite efforts to improve safety, such incidents continue to result in serious injuries and fatalities. Authorities stress the importance of staying focused while driving, especially in areas with high foot traffic, to prevent these tragic incidents.
