In a neighborhood long plagued by vandalism and theft, a local resident is voicing growing concerns about a persistent safety hazard involving vandalized electrical equipment along a busy Bakersfield roadway.
- Joseph Enriquez Jr. raises concerns about an uncovered Caltrans utility box on Highway 178.
- The box, vandalized and exposing wires, poses safety risks, especially near a school.
- Caltrans acknowledges the issue but is awaiting parts for repairs.
In a neighborhood long plagued by vandalism and theft, a local resident is voicing growing concerns about a persistent safety hazard involving vandalized electrical equipment along a busy Bakersfield roadway.
“I had an older brother who passed away from prostate cancer. He was a supervisor for the city of Santa Rita,” said Joseph Enriquez Jr., a retired maintenance worker and current employee at the Elks Lodge. “He always taught us that safety is the top priority— see something, say something.”
Enriquez said he drives Highway 178 every day and first noticed a vandalized Caltrans utility box about five months ago…