26-04-2025
‘There was a body going over the hood and he just kept driving': Chester Avenue hit-and-run suspect arraigned in court
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A man was arraigned Friday on charges of hit-and-run resulting in death.
The crash occurred Wednesday morning on the Chester Avenue bridge.
According to Bakersfield police, the crash happened early Wednesday morning on the Chester Avenue bridge near Columbus Street, the main throughway between central Bakersfield and Oildale. The driver of the truck didn't stop, and kept going.
Another man was walking on the sidewalk next to Ross, and he was struck by debris. He identified the vehicle and police used Flock cameras to find the owner.
'Immediately found an older model, white truck which matched parts at the scene that were left behind from the collision,' said Rex Davenport, a sergeant with Bakersfield Police.
Flock cameras are black, surveillance cameras that are constantly recording for police to check after the fact, in an investigation.
Headlight parts were left at the scene that matched the truck found in the footage.
'We get hundreds of hit-and-runs here in town, whether they're online reports or in-person reports and that's pretty much the first thing we go to are Flock cameras when there's suspect vehicle information,' said Davenport.
Officers ultimately arrested 35-year-old Bobby Lemons, and he was arraigned in court Friday afternoon.
In court, when asked about bail, Court Commissioner Sally Ackerknecht said, 'My concern was the fact that there was a body going over the hood and he just kept driving.'
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Lemons was allegedly arrested for hit-and-run resulting in death and faces up to four years in prison, and a $10,000 fine.
Family has identified the victim in the crash as 48-year-old John Ross. While they didn't want to go on camera, his daughter sent us a statement:
'He loved his family more than anything. He was goofy, giving, caring, and spontaneous. He leaves behind two kids and four grandchildren. We didn't get a chance to see my father. We didn't get to say goodbye. This driver took away so much from us. We will never get back.'
By our count, There have been five pedestrian fatalities on Chester Avenue since 2023, three of them being hit-and-runs. The other two happened just one day apart from each other in March of 2023.
The victims are Jesus Alberto Nelson and Sandra Marie Gannaway.
At last check, no arrests have been made.
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