A human foot found along a rural Templeton road belongs to a driver whose legs were severed in a crash along Highway 101 earlier this month, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators were called to the area near Santa Rita Road Sunday at around 9:15 a.m. after a bicyclist reported finding the foot.
While the sheriff’s office initially called the remains “suspicious in nature,” saying it was too early in the investigation to determine if the discovery was the result of an accident or foul play,” the California Highway Patrol on Monday told KSBY News it was likely linked to an earlier crash.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that information Wednesday, saying with the help of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and its rapid DNA process, it was determined the foot belongs to the driver who crashed along Highway 101 north of the Vineyard Drive off-ramp the night of July 17.
Officials say both of the victim’s legs were severed in the fiery crash and only one was located at the scene.
The crash site was approximately three miles away from where the foot was found.
Investigators have not released information on how they believe the foot got to the area where it was discovered.