Alejandro Marix Manriquez-Chavez Obituary, Death; – A 23-year-old man lost his life after his vehicle was hit by a suspected DUI driver on Highway 178 in the early hours of Friday morning.
The California Highway Patrol reported on Friday, June 13, 2025, that at approximately 1:03 a.m., officers responded to a call regarding a multi-vehicle accident on Highway 178, west of Beale Avenue. CHP indicated that an initial investigation revealed a Saturn Ion was parked on the right shoulder of eastbound Highway 178, west of Beale Avenue, with two individuals inside.
The driver of a Hyundai Santa Fe was traveling at a high speed eastbound on Highway 178, approaching the Saturn. According to CHP, the Hyundai’s driver veered onto the right shoulder and collided with the rear of the Saturn, causing both vehicles to overturn in the traffic lanes.
One of the passengers in the Saturn was killed. The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased as 23-year-old Alejandro Marix Manriquez-Chavez from Bakersfield. The report stated that he was the driver of the vehicle and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The other passenger in the Saturn sustained minor to moderate injuries and was transported to Kern Medical Hospital. The Hyundai driver also suffered minor injuries and was taken to Kern Medical Hospital. The eastbound lanes of Highway 178 were closed for approximately three hours for investigation and cleanup. At this time, CHP suspects that alcohol may have contributed to this incident.
