Update: Highway 178 Crash Near Weldon Leaves Two Dead, One Identified

This story has been updated with information from the Kern County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office identifying one of the victims.

Two people were killed Saturday evening, March 28, 2026, after a vehicle crashed into a tree and caught fire along Highway 178 near Weldon, according to the California Highway Patrol and Kern County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.

CHP officers were dispatched at approximately 4:27 p.m. to a solo-vehicle crash east of Kels Valley Road. According to CHP Public Information Officer Officer Toro, a Lexus RX400 was traveling eastbound on Highway 178 when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle veered off the roadway to the right and struck a tree.

The vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, trapping both the driver and a passenger inside. Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Kern County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office identified the passenger as Deborah Lea Struska, 62, of Weldon. According to the coroner’s report, Struska was a passenger in the vehicle and died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash.

The driver has not yet been identified and is listed as John Doe pending positive identification and notification of next of kin, according to the coroner’s office.

Dispatch logs show flames were reported coming from beneath the driver’s side of the vehicle, and bystanders attempted to put out the fire before emergency crews arrived.

It remains under investigation whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash, according to CHP.

The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the cause of the collision.