Investigators say the police officer who died during a pursuit in east Bakersfield wasn’t wearing a seat belt when he crashed at Mount Vernon Avenue and Panorama Drive.

David Nelson died of a torn artery and internal injuries when he hit a brick wall at the intersection on June 26, according to an autopsy.

A hearing for Julian Hernandez will be held Friday morning which may lead to the the addition of a second-degree murder charge. He pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter and four other charges last week.

– Anthony Pollreisz