BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Paul Nigh didn’t do much time-traveling in his customized DeLorean. But present-day travel, with all four wheels on the asphalt? He did plenty of that.
So, when he died Feb. 4 at the wheel of his beloved stainless-steel Back-to-the-Future mobile, it wasn’t just Bakersfield that lost a hilarious character — it was the world.
Nigh, who preferred the nickname “Doc,” after Christopher Lloyd’s eccentric “Doc” character from the movie franchise, is believed to have suffered a heart attack near Highway 178 and Commanche Drive, causing him to lose control. A cause of death has not been confirmed, but his daughter Tamara Nigh said he’d had heart problems.
“That DeLorean,” she said. “It was his world. He was very playful and light-hearted. He had such a child in him. It was amazing.”
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Nigh portrayed his own distinct “Doc” on a fulltime basis, or nearly so. The retired sheriff’s deputy and correctional officer showed up at car shows and car club events regularly, including the Hollywood Christmas Parade.