BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Police responded to the scene of a double homicide in East Bakersfield on Saturday morning, officials say two men were fatally shot. Several Bakersfield police units responded to the scene, two of those officers, however, were involved in a major injury crash.
The pair were responding to the scene of the shooting around 5 a.m. Because of a shot-spotter activation in the area of the 500 block of Butte Street.
The Bakersfield Police Department said when officers arrived, they found two unidentified men suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The men were transported to the hospital, where both died from their wounds.
As two male BPD officers responded to the scene with lights and sirens, the pair were involved in a collision on westbound Highway 178 near Beale Avenue.
"Priority, emergency, BPD rollover. 178. Beal," one voice said over a police radio around the time of the collision.
"The driver of the patrol vehicle lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle overturned," said Officer Robert Rodriguez, of the California Highway Patrol Bakersfield office.
Both officers were transported to Kern Medical Center and are expected to be okay.
"The driver of the patrol car received major, non-life-threatening injuries. The passenger, minor injuries," Officer Rodriguez said.
Officials said the BPD cruiser was the only vehicle involved. Traffic was diverted off the freeway for over an hour while crews cleaned up. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Bpd says there is no suspect information for release at this time regarding the double homicide. If anyone has information regarding the incident, you're asked to call BPD at 327-7111.
