BAKERSFIELD, Ca. – The body of a deceased male remained on a hillside overnight as the recovery efforts were halted due to lack of sufficient lighting Sunday evening.
At around 7:45 p.m. Bakersfield Police received information from hikers that a small rock slide had just occurred in the foothills west of the 10500 block of Alfred Harrell Highway. The callers indicated that someone was trapped underneath the fallen rocks. Officers arrived and searched for the trapped person. A backpack, tools and other personal equipment led deputies to the male who was covered by dirt and rocks but was determined to be deceased.
Bakersfield Police requested that the Bakersfield Fire Department responded to assist with the recovery. Due to the terrain and lack of lighting, the recovery effort was delayed until the morning Monday, April 27, 2020. The male victim’s body was recovered at around 11:00 a.m. The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Kern County Coroner’s Office, but the investigation is being handled as an accidental death at this time.
The identity of the decedent will be released at a later time by the Kern County Coroner’s office. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.
