BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — A man wanted in connection with a fatal motorcycle crash in Taft has surrendered to authorities, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office announced. Alejandro Padilla Jr., 48, turned himself in at the Kern Superior Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by his legal counsel.
The incident occurred on July 27, 2025, at approximately 10:43 a.m. when Taft police officers responded to reports of a collision involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck in the 1000 block of Kern Street. Medical personnel determined that the motorcyclist had died from injuries sustained in the crash. Officials said the driver of the pickup truck fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
The initial investigation revealed that the pickup truck was traveling westbound on Kern Street and attempted to make a southbound turn into a parking lot, directly into the path of the eastbound motorcycle. Padilla was identified as the suspected driver, and a warrant was issued for his arrest…