Update: Severed foot found in rural Templeton belonged to crash victim, authorities say
–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has identified the individual whose foot was found near Santa Rita Road in rural Templeton on July 26.
With the help of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and its rapid DNA process, this individual was identified as a surviving victim of a traffic collision on July 17.
That collision occurred when the car the male victim was driving crashed into a guardrail and caught fire on southbound Highway 101 just north of the Vineyard Drive off-ramp. Both of the victim’s legs were severed in that collision. One foot was recovered at the scene. The other foot could not be located.
That collision occurred approximately three miles away from where the individual’s foot was located near Santa Rita Road.
Original story posted July 28
–On Sunday at about 9:15 a.m., a bicyclist reported finding a human foot near Santa Rita Road in rural Templeton. San Luis Obispo County detectives are not releasing the exact location of the discovery due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
It’s not known at this time the origin of the foot, detectives said. While the remains are suspicious in nature, it is too early in the investigation to determine if this is the result of an accident or foul play.
The SLO County Coroner’s Office and detectives in the Sheriff’s major crimes unit will be conducting further analysis of the remains.
The investigation is continuing. No further information is available at this time.