Updated accident reports released on Wednesday, August 5th, named Bethany Ann Polhamus, 40, as the fatal victim of an auto-pedestrian collision in Bakersfield, California. The woman passed away on Thursday, July 30th, at about 12:50 a.m.

According to the Bakersfield Police Department, Polhamus was trying to cross Union Avenue near E. 8th Street outside a crosswalk when a vehicle struck her. Medics pronounced her dead at the scene, and the driver involved remained at the crash site and cooperated with the investigation.       

The police said that drugs or alcohol did not appear to have played a role in the accident. The cause is still under investigation, and anyone with helpful information should contact the BPD on the listed line.

Auto-pedestrian accidents on California roadways are a problem that is growing worse. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, more people are walking to work, school, malls, for fun, or as a form of exercise as an alternative to driving. The agency believes that safety is a two-way street, and drivers and pedestrians must work together to demonstrate safe behaviors of the road.

Safety tips for pedestrians include staying on the phone when walking, avoiding dangerous behaviors like jaywalking, wearing bright colors or carrying a flashlight at night, and looking left-right-left. Drivers should avoid speeding and maintain the speed limit, never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, look out for pedestrians and yield to them, stop at crosswalks, and be cautious when backing out of driveways.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

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