Coroner identifies man killed when car crashed and burst into flames in rural SLO County

The person killed in a solo vehicle crash and fire in rural San Luis Obispo County last week was identified Monday as Lucio Ornelas Avina of Paso Robles.

On the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 3, Ornelas Avina, 34, was driving a 2005 Ford Escape northbound on Creston Road, south of Camp 8 Road, at an unsafe speed, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release on Tuesday.

At around 4:20 p.m., Ornelas Avina veered off the road and lost control of his vehicle, crashing into an oil pipe fence, the CHP said in the release.

The crash occurred near the B&E Vineyard at 10000 Creston Road, north of Highway 41, according to the CHP Traffic Incident Information Page.

Witnesses reported the vehicle “quickly became fully engulfed in flames,” the release said.

Around 4:36 p.m., officers arriving on the scene reported the vehicle was “stuck on top of a 6-foot-tall fence,” according to emergency radio traffic.

Unable to exit the vehicle, Ornelas Avina was found dead at the scene shortly after. The SLO County coroner later identified the victim and notified next of kin.

It is also unknown if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor. The crash is pending further investigation by the CHP Templeton Area office.

This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM.