Closing arguments in alleged drunk driving crash that tore off BNSF officer's leg

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — On the night of April 1, 2023, motorcyclist Bryan Clark, heading west on Panama Lane, slowed down to pass a red light at Ashe Road.

This was not the case with the pickup truck that was speeding down the road behind him.

Swerving across the lanes at a speed of 100 mph, the truck slammed into the motorcycle, sending Clark flying in one direction and the motorcycle in another, prosecutor Kacie Barrier said.

The impact tore Clark's right leg off below the knee. Only a hastily applied tourniquet prevented him from bleeding out.

The van pulled into opposing lanes, then hit a fire hydrant – causing water to rise – before hitting a building and finally stopping.

Although the truck was going fast, speed was not the main factor in the crash, Barrier said.

The main cause was the impairment of her driver, Jacob Lee Bookout, whose blood alcohol level was 0.12%, she said Friday during closing arguments in Bookout's trial. THC and hydrocodone were also found in his system.

Bookout's public defender, Thomas J. Pope, argued that the deck was stacked against his client from the start because of Clark's employment: He was a BNSF railroad officer at the time of the accident and previously served with the Arvin Police Department.

Once investigators realized a co-worker had been injured, it changed how they viewed the evidence, Pope said.

“And because of that, from the beginning, the investigation in this case was flawed,” Pope told the jury.

Closing arguments concluded around 1:45 p.m. The jury began deliberating immediately thereafter.

Bookout is charged with four felonies: DUI causing injury, 0.08% DUI with injury, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs causing injury and reckless driving.

He also faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting officers due to his refusal to allow his blood to be drawn despite police obtaining a warrant. He struggled and kicked until Kern medical staff were finally able to insert a needle, Barrier said.

Clark underwent several surgeries and survived.

In addition to severing his leg, the accident detached two fingers from Clark's left hand and part of a third. The remainder of the injured finger was then surgically removed. He spent weeks in rehabilitation.