Shafter man, 51, dies in crash

The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim of a fatal accident on Lerdo Highway on Friday, April 12.

At around 2:05 a.m., 51-year-old Tabass Zebadee Grandison-Mendoza, of Shafter, reportedly was driving in a sedan that struck a tree on East Lerdo Highway.

Grandison-Mendoza was traveling westbound on East Lerdo Highway, just north of Cherry Avenue, when the accident occurred.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Lerdo Highway was closed for several hours as the road was cleaned up and an investigation was begun. The coroner’s report said that the driver seemed to veer off of the roadway, crashing into the tree. No cause has been identified for the accident, awaiting toxicology reports and further testing.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, they are encouraged to contact the Shafter Police Department at 661-746-8500.

--Jamie Stewart