Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Fatal Hit-and-Run on Buck Owens Blvd

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Floyd Luster was sentenced to three years in state prison for a March 2024 fatal hit-and-run crash that resulted in the death of Antonio Enrique Arjona, 41, of Bakersfield. Luster pleaded no contest to the charge last October and was arrested on January 9, 2025 after fleeing the scene.

Why it matters

Hit-and-run incidents are a major public safety concern in Bakersfield, with the city ranking among the highest in the nation for such crashes. This case highlights the need for stricter enforcement and penalties to deter these types of crimes and protect pedestrians.

The details

According to court records, the incident happened on March 29, 2024, just before 9:30 p.m., when Bakersfield police officers discovered Arjona with severe injuries in the 3200 block of Buck Owens Boulevard. Arjona died shortly after at the scene. Police reported that the driver, later identified as Luster, was driving a white hatchback heading northbound when he struck Arjona, who was in the northbound lanes outside of a crosswalk. Luster fled the scene but was later identified through information received by investigators.

• The incident happened on March 29, 2024, just before 9:30 p.m.
• Luster was arrested on January 9, 2025.
• Luster pleaded no contest to the charge last October.
• Luster was sentenced to three years in state prison on February 4, 2026.
• Luster failed to appear for his initial sentencing on January 8, 2026 and was arrested on January 20, 2026 after a warrant was issued by the court.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Floyd Luster out on bail pending his appeal.