LAMONT, Calif. -- The community continues to mourn the loss of a Kern County sheriff's deputy Monday morning.

Friends, family, and law enforcement tried to bring some light into a somber situation with a candlelight vigil on Sunday night. Family members of Deputy James Throne gathered in Lamont to remember his life and pray for the recovery of Deputy Doug Swanson.

Read Letter From Deputy's Wife

An empty field near Weedpatch Highway and Blackburn Street was filled with flowers, candles, and tears for deputy Throne.

Throne died Friday night when his patrol car and the patrol car of Swanson collided while responding to an emergency.

Swanson is in serious condition at Kern Medical Center. He suffered a broken leg, arm, pelvis, and fractured vertebra.

Throne’s brother, an officer for the Taft police department, said officers always stress safety in any situation and what happened on Friday was just an accident.

Funeral arrangements for Throne have been scheduled for this Friday at 10 a.m.

The funeral procession will be held at the Canyon Hills Assembly of God on Auburn Street.

Graveside services will be held immediately after at Hillcrest Memorial Park on Kern Canyon Road.

More than 50 members of local law enforcement have been killed in the line of duty in the past 130 years. The most recent was Deputy Joe Hudnall in November 2006.

He died while transporting a prisoner through the Kern River Canyon after being hit head-on by a driver who was suspected of driving under the influence.

According to the Kern County Sheriff's Department Web site, many peace officers killed in the line of duty die in car or motorcycle crashes.

DONATION INFORMATION: Anyone who would like to help may donate in the name of Swanson or Throne to the Kern County 999 Foundation at P.O. Box 228, Bakersfield, CA 93302. Tax I.D: 26-0152206. Interested parties may also call this number: 661-549-2110.