Multiple alcohol suspected car crashes into the same home, owner calls for more safety

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Joshan family has dealt with multiple alleged drunk drivers crashing into their house. The house is at Taft Highway and Old River Road, where an alleged drunk driver crashed into their house, the car bursting into flames.

Last night, almost to the day of the two-year anniversary of the first crash, there was another alleged alcohol-influenced crash, into the same home.

The family of this property has been dealing with the first crash case in court for two years now, and the owner says he wants somebody to do something to make this road safer.

“I know this intersection is county, city, and Caltrans so three governments involved, it looks like nobody wants to pay attention to it,” said Balwinder Joshan, part owner of the property.

Enrique Gomeztaggler was the driver who crashed Thursday night and damaged the home even more.

California Highway Patrol arrested the suspect on suspicion of alcohol intoxication saying he showed the signs and symptoms, “They {CHP} said that it was a very high speed they said that it’s not like normal intersection speed limit,” said Joshan.

The first crash, in September of 2022, also happened in the middle of the night and set the house ablaze. Severely injuring the family inside, including a toddler.

Joshan said, “He’s still bad, he’s not getting out of that, he’s growing a little bit right now but he’s not going to be same person.”

The speed limit on Taft Hwy is 55 and people coming off of Old River only have a stop sign. There is no streetlight to help drivers get safely across the roadway.

“That is not house right now to me it’s nightmare,” said Joshan. “Since the first accident, we wanted to repair it, but since last night, we don’t know what we can do to this house anymore right now.”

The woman charged in the first crash is Madison Williams, who is still fighting her three felony charges two of them being DUI charges, and is due in court on Sept. 18.

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