By Chelsea Phua
cphua@sacbee.com
Early Friday, a vehicle swerved off a rural road just south of Winters near the Yolo-Solano county line, ripped off a tree and caught on fire, authorities said.
By the time authorities arrived about 7 a.m., the car had completely burned and the driver inside was charred beyond recognition, said Marvin Williford, Solano California Highway Patrol officer.
"It was obvious the car went up in flames and burned up for a while," Williford said.
Only four digits - three numbers and a letter - on the license plate did not melt, he said. If authorities had more letters to work with, investigators might have an easier time tracking the identity of the driver, believed to be the only occupant, Williford said.
There were no witnesses, so it was unclear what time the car skidded off the road and into a walnut grove along Winters Road south of Putah Creek Road.
Williford said a farm worker had reported to work at 4:15 a.m. and did not see the wreckage, so authorities are estimating the time of the accident about 6 a.m.
Someone who reported the wreckage initially thought it was a smoking brush pile, Williford said.
Investigators are looking into whether speed was a factor in the crash.
Williford said the road in the area had a gentle curve. The car skidded 60 feet into the grove before hitting the tree. The impact was so great it tore the walnut tree out of the ground, Williford said.
It's unclear if the car immediately burst into flames on impact or started to burn afterward, Williford said.
Call The Bee's Chelsea Phua, (916) 321-1132.
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