LAMONT, Calif. -- A Sheriff's deputy was killed and another one seriously injured late Friday in a collision on Weedpatch Highway and Blackburn Street.

Dep. James Throne, 29, was driving in his patrol car in pursuit of a suspect of a theft at a Lamont store when he was hit by the patrol car of Dep. David Swanson, 30.

Kern County firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extract both deputies from their vehicles. Dep. Throne died at Kern Medical Center, while Dep. Swanson was taken to KMC with major injuries that do not appear to be life-threatening.

"He was a star," Sheriff Donny Youngblood said of Dep. Throne, citing his outstanding personnel file.

Throne and Swanson have been with the department for two years. Both have brothers who are officers with the Taft police department.

Throne is survived by a wife and three children.