The fatal crash occurred at 11 p.m. Saturday, according to a Monday report from the California Highway Patrol.
A 2004 silver Dodge Stratus was traveling north on Highway 29, south of Highway 175 to Cobb, at an undetermined speed when the solo male occupant was unable to negotiate a left curve in the road, the CHP said.
The Stratus went left across the southbound lane where it hit a dirt embankment along the road's west edge. The CHP report said the vehicle spun in a counter-clockwise direction with the rear of the vehicle striking a tree, causing major inward intrusion on the rear of the car.
The vehicle continued to spin around before coming to rest facing north along Highway 29's west shoulder, the CHP said.
The report explained that a preliminary CHP investigation indicated that the rear inward intrusion caused the gas tank to ignite and start a fire.
The CHP said passing motorists stopped and attempted to help the driver while emergency personnel were en route. However, the fire burned the vehicle so quickly the driver couldn't escape.
The driver's death was attributed to the fire before it could be extinguished, the CHP said.
By the end of Monday the driver hadn't been identified. The CHP said no one else was injured due to the crash and fire.
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