17 News @ Sunrise 03/01/2024

Some of today's top storiesthe department of water resources conducted its third snow survey of the season yesterday morning, before a full-blown blizzard is expected to roll through the sierra nevada mountains. At Phillips Station, the DWR measured the water content of the sierra snowpack... showing a depth of 47 point 5 inches -- roughly four feet.. which is about 77 percent of the average for this time of year at that location. DWR's electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the state indicate the statewide snowpack's water equivalent is 80-percent of average for this date -- a significant improvement from just 28% of average on January 1st. We have new information on an accident near Buttonwillow, that sent two men to the hospital. The crash happened yesterday morning on the 58 east of Bussell Road. According to the CHP, the driver of a Toyota Rav-4 that was involved in an earlier crash was walking around the vehicle, surveying the damage. That's when another car going about 60 miles per hour, rear-ended the Toyota. Both drivers were taken to the hospital. Officials did not give an update on their conditions. CHP says the second driver was going too fast for the foggy conditions at the time of the crash, adding alcohol and/or drugs were not involved.The Kern County Coroner has identified a Bakersfield man who died in an early morning crash Tuesday on Zerker Road.Investigators say Eric Paul Hoffman drove off the road and crashed into multiple other cars.The 74-year-old died in the crash.Two other drivers were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.