Pickup truck strikes 3 people, ‘seriously’ injuring them ahead of Christmas parade in California

Multiple people were seriously injured after a truck backed into them moments before a Christmas parade in California was set to begin Thursday night.

A Ford F-150 pickup was reported to have hit three people at around 5:30 p.m. along the parade route in Downtown Bakersfield, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.

“BPD is conducting an investigation at H St and 21st St which is affecting the original parade route. The Parade Marshall is working to see if rerouting the parade is an option,” the Department posted on X.

The three pedestrians were rushed to a local hospital in serious condition.

The truck backed into a crowd of partygoers waiting for the parade’s 6 p.m. start time, Vice Mayor of Bakersfield Andrae Gonzales revealed.

“What we know is at least 3 are seriously injured, after a truck backed into a crowd of parade-goers on 21st and H Streets. The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital,” Gonzales wrote on Instagram, adding, “Lots of misinformation circulating.”

Police say they have arrested the pickup truck driver, and the scene remains under investigation. 

There is no threat to public safety, the department said.

Parade officials, however, continued with the Christmas parade as they pushed back its start time on an alternate route.

Bakersfield is about 120 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

This is a developing story