Police Officer William L. Rucker was killed when his motorcycle crashed almost head-on into a car at Palm and Oak streets in Bakersfield.

The 29-year-old motor patrolman was pronounced dead on arrival at Kern General Hospital.

Investigators say Rucker was northbound on Oak Street when the other driver negotiated a left turn from Oak onto Palm. Highway Patrol officers at the scene cited the other driver for alleged violation of right of way and making an improper left turn. One of the first persons to reach the crash scene was Rucker’s wife, she was following a short distance behind in the family car.

Rucker was not on duty at the time, but was taking his police motorcycle to the police mechanic shop for repair work.

The officer was appointed May 21, 1949 and had worked continuously as a motor officer since that time. A captain in the USAF, he was shot down and was a prisoner of war for two years.

He graduated from Manual Arts high school in Las Angeles, then started his training in the Army Air Corps in 1942, graduating at Stockton Air Base in 1943. He spent nine months in a German prison camp after being shot down on a mission and was liberated in May, 1945.

Returning to this country, he was stationed at Minterfield where he met the future Mrs. Rucker, the former Beverly Sands.

Officer Rucker left behind his wife, Beverly, and two sons, Michael William and Patrick Jay.

Officer William C. Foote, 33, was returning from a special traffic control assignment at the Salinas Rodeo when his motorcycle crashed head-on into another vehicle. Officers traveling with Foote believed a tire blow-out or a crack in the pavement caused the patrolman to lose control and swerve into the path of the oncoming car.

Officer Foote, who was born in Aberdeen, Idaho, spent his youth in White Bear Lake, Minnesota where he attended grammar school and high school.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 1941, and participated in the Soloman Islands campaign and later in the assault on Iwo Jima, where he was awarded the Silver Star for valor in action and the Purple Heart for wounds received during the invasion. Patrolman Foote was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the field and was discharged from service in 1945.

He was recalled to active duty with the Bakersfield Marine Reserve Unit in August, 1950, to serve for a year in Korea. During this tour of duty, he was awarded the Bronze Star.

He joined the CHP in 1948.

Officer Foote left behind a wife, Audrey Agnes, and a daughter, Dianne Mary.