BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry joined 17 News at Sunrise to discuss the deadly pedestrian crash between a BPD car and a pedestrian on South Union Avenue and security measures in place for the 2024 Kern County Fair.
Officers Julian Garcia and Zachary Ward were responding to an auto-theft call, when Officer Garcia, hit and killed 27-year-old Brandon Gabriel Flores, while Flores was walking outside of the crosswalk.
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Footage from the scene shows the BPD cruiser had its headlights on, but not its lights and sirens during the crash. The family has since filed a claim against the city seeking more than $5 million.
While jaywalking, or walking outside of a crosswalk, is now legal in California if it’s reasonably deemed safe, Chief Terry says his department is constantly evaluating its policies.
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The department will be borrowing a sky tower from Escondido Police. The elevated position will allow officers “to observe the public space”, and to really look across the broad spectrum of possibilities and be prepared for those kinds of emergencies.”