BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Officials say two 33-year-old men are dead after their vehicle collided head-on with a Kern County Sheriff's Office deputy vehicle on State Route 14 in Ridgecrest around 2 a.m. today, according to Bishop CHP.

KCSO Sergeant James Anton was on duty during the collision and was transported with major injuries to a hospital, but is expected to survive, Mojave CHP officer Aaron Maurer said.

The collision occurred near milepost 50.50, according to a Kern County Sheriff's Office coroner release, identifying 33-year-old Fernando Ramirez and 33-year-old Michael John Ferialdi as the individuals who died in this collision.

Ramirez was the driver of the vehicle and Ferialdi was his passenger, according to the release. Both men are residents of Burbank and were pronounced dead on scene, the release noted. A third passenger in the vehicle was transported to the hospital and is expected to survive.

Maurer said the cause of the collision is still being investigated.