An Atascadero man was killed and a passenger injured in a crash at the Oceano Dunes over the weekend.
State Parks reports staff were notified of the collision involving a recreational off-highway vehicle at around 2 p.m. Sunday near sand highway 22.
Rangers reportedly found the side-by-side at the bottom of what was described as a “large bowl” with visible damage to its roll cage and bystanders performing CPR on the driver.
Rangers took over life-saving measure attempts until CAL FIRE crews arrived but the driver, identified as Taylor Brard of Atascadero, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The passenger was reportedly taken by helicopter to the hospital for treatment of injuries said to not be life-threatening.
State Parks says no other vehicles were involved and adds that the last OHV-related fatality at the dunes was in June of 2021.
