Man killed in rollover crash at Oceano Dunes

A Fresno man died and his passenger was seriously injured Sunday afternoon in a single-vehicle rollover crash at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office on Monday identified the dead man as 27-year-old Leo Esqueda.

California State Parks Chief Ranger Kevin Pearce said Monday that Esqueda was driving a street-legal Chevrolet Blazer on the dunes at about 2 p.m. when he failed to navigate a steep dune and lost control of the vehicle, which rolled down the dune face.

Pearce said Esqueda and his passenger, who has not been identified, were thrown from the vehicle as it rolled.

Neither person was wearing safety belts, Pearce said.

Esqueda was pronounced dead at the scene from major blunt force trauma injuries, and the passenger was airlifted to a nearby hospital in serious condition.

Pearce said the passenger remained in the hospital Monday but was in stable condition.

He said the crash remains under investigation.

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 3:12 PM with the headline "Man killed in rollover crash at Oceano Dunes."