Flood in Lancaster claims life of Navy veteran, to be buried at Bakersfield Nat’l Cemetery

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — A 68-year-old Navy veteran, Robert “Jerry” Hiller, died on Christmas Eve after his vehicle was swept away in a flood in Lancaster, according to a GoFundMe page and CBS News. Hiller was identified through the website, which described his passing as “a heartbreaking shock to all who loved him.”

CBS News reported that at around 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 24, 2025, Hiller’s body was found inside a partially submerged vehicle near 58th Street East and Avenue H-10 amid the recent storm, per the LA County Sheriff’s Department.

A department helicopter that was flying over the area spotted a “blue sedan that was partially submerged following yesterday’s flooding.” The vehicle could not be seen from the road due to the terrain and “significant” flooding, reported CBS News…

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