Eusebio Cortez Obituary, Death; Bakersfield coroner IDs 86-year-old man killed in train collision.

Eusebio Cortez Obituary, Death – The Kern County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of a man killed late Friday night in Bakersfield after his vehicle was struck by a train. Authorities confirmed the victim as 86-year-old Eusebio Cortez, a longtime resident of Bakersfield.

According to officials, the deadly incident occurred on Friday, September 26, 2025, just before 11 p.m. Emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of King Street and East 18th Street following reports of a collision between a train and a passenger car. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found that the driver, later confirmed to be Cortez, had sustained fatal injuries. Despite immediate emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead at the location.

Investigators said Cortez had been behind the wheel of his car when, for reasons still under review, the vehicle entered the path of the train. The impact left the car severely damaged and Cortez with injuries that proved fatal. Officials noted that no other passengers were in the vehicle, and no additional injuries were reported among the train crew.

The Bakersfield Police Department and other emergency personnel secured the crash site for several hours while they worked to piece together the events leading up to the collision. Trains passing through the area were temporarily delayed as authorities conducted their investigation and cleared the wreckage.

The coroner’s office officially listed the time of the crash at approximately 10:56 p.m., with Cortez’s death declared shortly thereafter. Family members of the victim have since been notified.

Though full details remain unclear, investigators are examining a number of potential factors that could have contributed to the accident. These include whether the railroad crossing signals were functioning properly, if speed played a role, or if Cortez may have been disoriented in the moments before the collision. Authorities have not released information about whether alcohol, fatigue, or a medical emergency may have been factors.

Neighbors in the area described the intersection of King Street and East 18th Street as one with frequent train traffic and said that vehicles occasionally attempt to cross in risky circumstances. Some community members expressed concern that visibility at the crossing is limited at night, which could increase the risk of accidents. Others noted that while warning systems are typically reliable, even a brief moment of distraction for a driver can have tragic consequences.

Officials stressed that the case remains under active investigation. The Bakersfield Police Department is working alongside railroad authorities to gather additional evidence, including surveillance footage, train operator statements, and data from the train’s systems that might reveal how fast it was traveling at the time of impact.

The death of Cortez adds to a series of tragic incidents involving vehicle and train collisions in the region in recent years. Safety advocates continue to remind drivers to exercise extreme caution near railroad crossings, emphasizing the importance of obeying warning signals and never attempting to cross when a train is approaching.

As of now, authorities have not released any further details about what may have led Cortez to enter the tracks at the time of the crash. The investigation is ongoing, and officials expect more information to be shared in the coming weeks.

Cortez’s passing leaves a community grieving the sudden loss of a local resident whose life ended in a devastating accident. The Kern County Coroner’s Office will continue coordinating with investigators to provide updates as they become available.