BAKERSFIELD, CA — A 60-year-old man from Nevada died after being thrown from a jet boat at Lake Ming on Saturday morning, according to the Kern County coroner.
Steven Carl Penberthy II, of Sparks, was injured in the incident and later died at Kern Medical. The coroner said the crash happened at about 9:19 a.m. on October 17, 2026, at 13375 Lake Ming.
He was pronounced dead at 2:23 p.m. that day, officials said.
Coroner identifies the victim as Sparks resident Steven Carl Penberthy II
The coroner identified the victim as Steven Carl Penberthy II. Authorities said he was 60 years old and lived in Sparks, Nevada.
Lake Ming is a popular recreation area in the Bakersfield region, and the fatal incident unfolded there in the morning hours. Officials have not released details about what caused Penberthy to be ejected from the boat.
At this point, the public record from the coroner focuses on the timing of the incident, the victim’s identity, and where he died.
What investigators say happened at Lake Ming
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Park Rangers investigated the incident, according to the coroner’s office. Their role suggests the matter was handled as a boating-related death at the lake.
No additional circumstances were released about how the jet boat was operating, whether anyone else was hurt, or whether weather or equipment played a part. Those details were not included in the information made public by the coroner.
The exact sequence of events leading to the ejection remains unknown based on the available facts.
Kern Medical pronounced Penberthy dead later that afternoon
After the incident, Penberthy was transported to Kern Medical in Bakersfield. The hospital pronounced him dead at 2:23 p.m., several hours after the morning emergency at Lake Ming.
That timeline shows the severity of the injuries he suffered after being thrown from the boat. Officials did not say how he was moved from the lake to the hospital or what treatment was attempted before he died.
The coroner’s office said only that he was taken to the hospital and later declared dead there.
Lake Ming and the role of county park rangers
The incident happened at 13375 Lake Ming, placing the death at one of Kern County’s better-known outdoor recreation spots. The area is overseen through county operations, including park ranger response when emergencies happen on the water.
In this case, the sheriff’s office park rangers took the lead in the investigation. Their involvement indicates local authorities were called to examine the circumstances surrounding the boating accident.
No warning notices, closures, or broader public safety alerts were included in the information released after the death.
What is known so far about the fatal boating accident
So far, officials have confirmed four key facts: the victim’s identity, the time of the incident, the location at Lake Ming, and the fact that he died later at Kern Medical.
What remains unclear is why Penberthy was ejected from the jet boat and whether any other factors contributed to the accident. Authorities have not publicly said whether the boat struck anything, whether he fell during a turn, or whether there was a mechanical issue.
The coroner’s account leaves the case open to further investigation by county authorities.
