A police officer who died in a crash in east Bakersfield has been laid to rest.

Greg Williamson, the chief of police for the Bakersfield Police Department, said Wednesday that 26-year-old David Nelson’s career was cut short when he crashed his cruiser last Friday while chasing a vehicle at Panorama Drive and Mount Vernon Avenue.

“David was a Bakersfield police officer for two years and one day,” Williamson said. “He was sworn in on June 24, 2013, and the end of his watch, tragically, was June 25, 2015.”

First Lt. Brandon A. Recker said he lost one of his best friends.

“His joy, his passion and his love – those three qualities made David what he is, and he brought them to every aspect of his life,” Recker said.

Hundreds of Nelson’s friends, family and colleagues attended chapel services in Los Angeles and graveside services in Glendale on Wednesday.

Services in Bakersfield for Nelson will be held next Tuesday at the downtown Rabobank Theater.

– Anthony Pollreisz