Paso Robles man found dead in Bakersfield after being trapped under rock slide
Police on Monday recovered the body of a Paso Robles man who was killed in a rock slide near Bakersfield over the weekend.
On Sunday, officers responded to reports of a person trapped under a small rock slide in the 10500 block of Alfred Harrell Highway, according to a Bakersfield Police Department news release.
The slide occurred near Sharktooth Hill, an area popular with fossil collectors, police Sgt. Nathan McCauley said.
According to police, officers searched the slide location and found the body of 56-year-old Doren James Strane after locating his backpack and tools in an area with loose dirt and rocks.
Officers moved the debris to find the body and determined Strane was already dead, the release said.
Due to the difficult terrain and lack of lighting, police and the Bakersfield Fire Department were unable to unearth Strane’s body on Sunday, police said.
Police and fire personnel secured the area overnight and recovered Strane’s remains at 11 a.m. Monday, the release said.
The Kern County Coroner’s Office is investigating the incident, but Strane’s death is currently being handled as an accident.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111.
