Kern County Man Convicted in 2020 Road Rage Assault

Defendant faces up to 13 years in prison for using his SUV as a deadly weapon during a pursuit and crash

Feb. 25, 2026 at 9:53pm

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A Kern County jury has found Abel Rodriguez Almanza guilty of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of reckless driving following a 2020 road rage incident. Almanza aggressively pursued a married couple for several miles, ultimately driving his SUV into their vehicle and causing it to crash into a canal. The couple was forced to escape through rising water, and Almanza later admitted to law enforcement that he was in "road rage mode" during the encounter.

Why it matters

This conviction highlights the serious consequences that can result from road rage incidents, where drivers allow anger to override reason and use their vehicles as deadly weapons. The case reflects the community's commitment to protecting innocent drivers from such senseless violence.

The details

According to the Kern County District Attorney's Office, on June 23, 2020, Almanza pursued the victims, a married couple, for several miles after becoming enraged during a merge in traffic on Highway 99. He continued to follow the victims off the freeway and onto surface streets, aggressively targeting their vehicle. Almanza ultimately drove his SUV into the victims' car as they tried to make a lawful right turn onto South H Street in Bakersfield, causing their vehicle to lose control, cross multiple lanes of traffic, and enter a canal filled with water. The vehicle became partially submerged, and the couple was forced to escape through rising water.

  • On June 23, 2020, the road rage incident occurred on Highway 99 and the streets of Bakersfield.
  • On February 24, 2026, a Kern County jury found Almanza guilty of the charges.
  • Almanza's sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2026.

The players

Abel Rodriguez Almanza

A Kern County man who was convicted of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of reckless driving following a 2020 road rage incident.

Kern County District Attorney's Office

The office that prosecuted Almanza and secured the conviction.

Cynthia Zimmer

The Kern County District Attorney who commented on the conviction, stating that road rage is a crime that can have catastrophic consequences.

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What they’re saying

“Road rage is not just a momentary lapse in judgment – in many cases, it is a crime. Allowing anger to override reason and using a two-ton vehicle as a deadly weapon can result in catastrophic consequences.”

— Cynthia Zimmer, Kern County District Attorney

What’s next

Almanza's sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2026, where he faces up to 13 years in prison due to his prior strike conviction for carjacking.

The takeaway

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of road rage and the importance of maintaining control behind the wheel. It underscores the need for drivers to prioritize safety and reason over anger, as the consequences of using a vehicle as a weapon can be severe and life-altering.