Prosecutor in California killed in crash fleeing police

Friday, July 30th 2004, 9:24 pm

By: News On 6

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) _ A county prosecutor who had been drinking with co-workers at a bar lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a patrol car after fleeing police in a high-speed chase. He died at the scene.

Mark Richard Baker, 34, had been prosecuting misdemeanor cases, including driving under the influence cases, for about a year.

He was killed when his motorcycle slid into a stopped patrol car late Wednesday.

``He was one of the most popular and most respected deputies in our office,'' District Attorney Ed Jagels told The Bakersfield Californian. ``The office is devastated. It's a huge blow.''

Baker graduated from Hastings Law School in 2002 and passed the state bar last year.

He was a reserve deputy sheriff in San Bernardino County from 1990 to 1994 before coming to Kern County, north of Los Angeles.