Investigators say the two men were loading the bed of a pickup truck when James Montgomery jumped into the driver's seat. Montgomery drove for three miles with the men in the back of the truck, then he crashed into an SUV.
Magdaleno and Cruz were thrown from the truck. Action News has confirmed that Jesus Magdaleno was a Visalia CHP officer. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cruz is being treated at a Las Vegas hospital.
Montgomery told officers he did not remember what happened prior to the crash. He is now facing charges including kidnapping and carjacking.