A Bakersfield man pled not guilty to child endangerment after his daughter who was sharing a seatbelt with a sibling was ejected from their vehicle during a crash.

Neftali Acevedo Saenz, 35, from Bakersfield, pled not guilty to a felony charge of child endangerment Monday, said Greg Risling, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Around 1:15 p.m. Sunday, officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Newhall Area  personnel responded to a multi-vehicle 5 Freeway crash near Lyons Avenue, said Josh Greengard, spokesperson for the CHP Newhall Office. 

Acevedo Saenz, the driver of a Honda CR-V and a Toyota 4-Runner collided, causing the Honda to flip, according to Officials.  

“A preliminary investigation determined one of the drivers made an unsafe lane change, causing the right front of the Honda CR-V to collide with the left rear of the Toyota 4-Runner,” Greengard said. “The Honda CR-V overturned and a juvenile passenger was ejected from the vehicle.” 

CHP officers learned six passengers were in the CR-V which could legally only seat five, according to Greengard. 

“Two passengers, one being the 7-year-old, were sharing a seatbelt, which is not legal in California,” Greengard said. 

The 7-year-old girl was transported to Northridge Hospital with major injuries, according to officials. 

Acevedo Saenz is due back in court on April 13, for a preliminary setting, Risling said.

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