The Kern County Coroner’s Office says the man killed in a west-side hit-and-run near Palm Avenue and Country Breeze Place is 66-year-old Lauren Bristol of Bakersfield.
Robert Rodriguez with the California Highway Patrol said 20-year-old Kevin Coontz is accused of veering across the road and striking Bristol on the sidewalk early Sunday afternoon.
“We determined that he fled to his residence – we found the vehicle that was involved in that crash, and we impounded that vehicle,” he said.
Rodriguez also said they’re trying to figure out what to charge Coontz with.
“We haven’t determined the exact charges for him – that’s still getting worked out, and so is the investigation,”
Investigators are also still trying to figure out what caused the crash.
Rodriguez said Bristol lived in the neighborhood in which he was killed.
– Anthony Pollreisz