CHP identifies man killed in Hwy. 101 crash near Arroyo Grande
California Highway Patrol released the identity of a man who was killed Sunday in a single-vehicle car crash on Highway 101 near Arroyo Grande.
Officials said Mario Pablo Flores De Jesus, 57, of Santa Maria was driving a 2004 Toyota Tacoma when he went off Highway 101, crashed into a large oak tree and became engulfed in flames.
CHP said De Jesus was traveling at high speeds on northbound Highway 101 in the No. 2 lane south of El Campo Road near Arroyo Grande about 3:30 p.m.
Witnesses told the CHP that the truck passed several vehicles in the No. 1 lane and was approaching a slower-moving vehicle in the No. 2 lane.
As the truck approached the slower-moving car, De Jesus attempted to quickly move into the No. 1 lane, but lost control of his vehicle, the CHP said.
The truck veered east across the lanes of traffic and left the road, where it collided with a large oak tree, the CHP said. The truck then became fully engulfed in flames.
Witnesses tried to approach the truck and help, but couldn’t because of the flames, the CHP said. De Jesus died as a result of the crash and subsequent fire.
Cal Fire assisted in extinguishing the fire and extricated the man from the vehicle.
Gabby Ferreira: 805-781-7858, @Its_GabbyF
Lucas Clark: 805-781-7915, @LucasClark_SLO
This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 5:55 PM with the headline "CHP identifies man killed in Hwy. 101 crash near Arroyo Grande."