03-05-2025
‘It just takes that one instance to have something happen': Bakersfield law enforcement cracks down on distracted drivers
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — April was Distracted Driving Awareness Month and on the very last day, Bakersfield police and the California Highway Patrol warned and cited 179 drivers for distracted driving.
One look away from the road could be deadly.
'Our whole family has been devastated by it for a short phone call,' said Alfredo Marron.
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Alfredo Marron is the uncle of Ricardo Aguilar, an 8-year-old boy hit-and-killed while crossing Bank Street and Holtby Road in the historic neighborhood of Oleander
The crash happened in October, and the driver, 40-year-old Judith Deval has been charged with the boy's death.
Prosecutors said Deval was on her phone when she hit the boy.
'These phones are very distracting nowadays. We get the notification, we get the alert, we have reminders. Anything and everything just pops up,' said Marron.
Deval's case was last called on Wednesday, the same day BPD and CHP held their distracted driving operation.
'It just takes that one instance to have something happen,' said Marron.
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People at Beale Park, just down the road from Ricardo's memorial, echoed how dangerous it is getting behind the wheel.
'I was driving a company vehicle, and she was on her phone and she smacked into the back of our vehicle,' said June Wy.
'I think it used to happen more often than it does now, I think that I've sort of learned my lesson to be completely aware at all times kind of a defensive driving thing,' said Kelly Hargraves.
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