Courtroom assigned for trial of man charged in deadly Hwy 65 crash
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A 56-year-old man accused of driving drunk when his pickup hit another vehicle on Highway 65, killing the driver, has been assigned a courtroom for trial, according to court records.
William Pederson is charged with second-degree murder and other offenses in connection with the Feb. 14, 2023, crash that killed Juana Torres de Calderon, 53.
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His trial will be heard in Department 8 in the downtown Bakersfield courthouse, records show. A hearing is set for Thursday.
Pederson's Dodge Ram crossed double yellow lines into the opposing lane as he drove north on Highway 65 at about 3:50 a.m., according to California Highway Patrol. The pickup collided with Torres de Calderon's vehicle just north of Famoso Road.
Pederson told officers he was returning home to Porterville after spending time with family in Sacramento. He said he drank about a six-pack of Coors beer.
Preliminary tests showed his blood-alcohol content at 0.158 and 0.156%, according to court documents, nearly twice the legal limit.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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