Delano, Calif. — In the dead of night Thursday, a lone vehicle veered off Woollomes Avenue and smashed into poles on a rural shoulder, forever altering the lives of three young people. The Kern County Coroner’s Office has since confirmed two fatalities: 21-year-old Elias Antonio Hernandez of Delano and Andru Luque Felix, 19, also of Delano. A third, a 19-year-old woman, remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash happened just after 12:28 a.m. on October 16, near the stretch of Woollomes Avenue west of Wallace Road. The car—a 2017 black Acura ILX—was traveling eastbound at what investigators describe as an “undetermined high rate of speed.” For reasons still unclear, it left the north edge of the roadway and slammed into several large metal poles and a wooden power pole on the dirt shoulder.
The impact was violent. Because Hernandez was not wearing a seatbelt, he was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Luque Felix, seated in the front passenger seat, also suffered devastating injuries and was declared dead at the scene. The 19-year-old female passenger in the rear sustained moderate to major injuries and was rushed to Kern Medical, where she remains under treatment.
Road closures followed. Investigators shut down both directions of Woollomes Avenue for about three hours to process the scene and clear debris. Meanwhile, the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. CHP has not confirmed whether alcohol or drugs played a role.
What makes this tragedy especially painful is the youth of those lost and the uncertainty surrounding what led to it all. In a quiet stretch of road, without another vehicle involved, it speaks to a moment of loss—split-second decisions, speed unchecked, lives derailed. The family of the woman still clinging to life must carry on, while other families mourn two futures cut too short.
As authorities continue piecing together forensic evidence, witness statements, and possible contributing factors, the town of Delano waits for answers. The crash is a harsh reminder: behind every headline like this lies real people—siblings, children, friends—whose stories will echo far beyond the asphalt.
If you knew the victims, saw the crash, or have information that could aid authorities, please reach out to the California Highway Patrol.