Man Dies of Burns From Car Explosion
A 35-year-old Ventura man died Wednesday afternoon from burns he suffered in a car explosionthe previous day, authorities said.
Victor Gutierrez Villalobos died in the burn unit at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, where he was airlifted after the Tuesday night incident, authorities said.
Villalobos suffered second- and third-degree burns over his entire body, said Dave Carter, a San Bernardino County deputy coroner.
The explosion occurred about 9:45 p.m. after Villalobos drove to a dead end on Mohawk Avenue near Dakota Drive in Ventura to help his cousin, Maria Martinez, who had run out of gas.
Villalobos was sitting in the passenger seat of Martinez’s car and holding a container of gasoline between his legs when the car’s interior erupted in flames, said Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Anderson.
Authorities said the explosion may have been caused when Villalobos flicked on a cigarette lighter to search for something inside the car. Gas fumes may have mixed with heat from the flame, authorities said.
After the explosion, Martinez, who was standing nearby, pulled her cousin from the burning vehicle.
She suffered minor burns on her hands, Anderson said.
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