Freddie Edgar Hughes Jr 5 yrs old killed by drunk driver July 17, 1982

July 17, 1982 Freddie Edgar Hughes Jr was killed by a drunk driver. The driver of vehicle was Casmedo Machedo Illegal from Mexico. Mr. Machedo was driving home from work around 5:30pm while intoxicated. Freddie was with his 9 yr old sister walking to the corner store on Wible Rd and Hwy 119 (Taft Hwy) Bakersfield, Ca when the drunk driver struck and killed the 5yr old.

Mr Machedo was driviny a late 70's model Plymouth and was 2 1/2 times over the legal limit on blood alcohol concentration. Mr. Machedo was arrested at the scene. Booked into Kern County Jail on charges of Manslauter, and was convicted and his sentence was 16 months in prison and then deported to Mexico.

Freddie Edgar Hughes Jr was taken to Mercy Truxtun Hospital where he pronounced dead. He was a week away from his 6th Birthday. He was born July 25, 1976.

Freddie Edgar Hughes JrPhoto byDorothy Hughes

Under California Vehicle Code section 23152, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This prohibition includes driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher

Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 39 minutes.

Family has adopted the Highway where he lost his life.Photo byCaltrans & Dorothy Hughes