Lakia Annette Norrissa Gray Killed in Bakersfield Accident
Investigation continues after fatal electric scooter accident at P and 4th Streets
Lakia Annette Norrissa Gray, 37, of Bakersfield, died March 17, 2026, after being involved in an electric scooter accident on P Street near 4th Street, Bakersfield police said.
A car traveled northbound, and Gray was riding her electric scooter westbound in the northern crosswalk of the intersection when she was hit, police said. Paramedics found her in the road with major injuries. She died at the scene.
The area was closed for several hours to collect evidence.
Gray was in the crosswalk on her scooter shortly after midnight when a northbound car struck her, police said. The Kern County Coroner's Office identified the victim after notifying her family.
The driver remained at the scene and spoke with officers. Investigators are working to determine the right-of-way at the time of the crash, including the status of traffic signals.
The Bakersfield Police Department is leading the investigation into the fatal electric scooter collision. Officers arrived at the intersection of P Street and 4th Street at approximately 12:02 a.m. on March 17th and discovered the victim in the roadway. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The area was closed for several hours as the Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) conducted a forensic mapping of the scene. Driver impairment is not a factor in the crash.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "Separate from criminal charges, a victim may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party,"
California wrongful death statute
Under California's Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, the surviving family members of Gray may pursue a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for their sudden loss. California follows a pure comparative negligence system, which allows for the recovery of damages even if a decedent is found partially responsible for an incident, though any award is reduced by their percentage of fault. This legal framework is designed to provide a path for survivors to address the financial and emotional void left behind after a fatal electric scooter collision.
Survivors can typically seek damages for funeral and burial expenses, the loss of financial support the decedent would have provided, and the loss of companionship and guidance. The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit in California is generally two years from the date of the person's passing. Because infrastructure and vehicle data are essential in determining liability, early legal consultation is often necessary to ensure all physical and digital evidence is preserved before it is lost or overwritten.