Bakersfield, CA — April 22, 2025, one person was killed in a tow truck accident at about 7:45 p.m. on Hosking Avenue near Golden Valley High School.

Authorities said a man became trapped under a school bus as it was being loaded onto a tow truck near Monitor Street.

The man, whose name has not been released yet, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to authorities.

There were no children present at the time of the incident, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Kern County accident.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Any time someone is killed during a vehicle recovery operation, the investigation needs to focus on whether basic safety protocols were followed, because this type of work is inherently dangerous, but it’s not supposed to be deadly. A fatality during the loading of a school bus onto a tow truck raises immediate questions about equipment setup, communication between workers and whether the scene was being managed with the level of caution that’s expected in this line of work.

Tow truck operators, especially those handling large vehicles like school buses, are required to follow strict procedures to prevent exactly this kind of incident. That includes securing the vehicle before anyone approaches it, using proper tools for lifting and stabilization and ensuring that no one is in or around the danger zone when equipment is in motion. If someone became trapped underneath the bus, it suggests a serious breakdown in either communication or control of the work site.

It’s also important to look at who was present and what roles they were playing. Was the victim part of the recovery team, or a bystander who wasn’t supposed to be there? Was there a clear chain of command on the scene, and were spotters or secondary personnel watching the operation as it progressed? When those roles aren’t clearly defined — or when crews are rushed or working without support — it’s far more likely that someone ends up in harm’s way.

The fact that this involved a school bus, even one that was unoccupied, adds another layer of concern. Vehicles designed to transport children carry a higher duty of care, and anyone working on or around them is expected to treat that responsibility seriously, even during off-hours. The expectation is that everything — from towing procedures to personnel training — meets a higher standard. When that doesn’t happen, the consequences aren’t just professional failures. They’re fatal.

This is the kind of incident that should prompt a full examination not just of what happened, but of the safety culture that allowed it. Was the crew trained to handle large vehicle recovery? Did they have the right equipment? Were they following a clear, rehearsed procedure? If the answer to any of those is no, then the issue isn’t just what happened in those final moments. It’s what was missing in the preparation leading up to it. Because recovery work will always involve risk. But when that risk turns into a fatality, it’s a sign that something more than just bad luck was at play.

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