Public Asked To Help Identify Man Killed In San Jose Crash

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Authorities asked for the public's help Thursday in identifying a man who died last month in a fiery crash while driving a stolen rental car in San Jose.

The man's facial features are unrecognizable due to extensive burns, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office. He is believed to be black or Latino, 25 to 35 years old, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and about 150 pounds, and was wearing a hoodie.

The man has a tattoo of a red lily flower and two smaller blue flowers on his left foot. The word "Life," written in script, is tattooed above the flower.

"Despite forensic attempts, he remains unidentified," the coroner's office said.

The crash happened late evening Jan. 16, while the man was driving a Dodge Charger at high speeds on northbound Highway 101. While taking the connector ramp to Highways 680 and 280, he lost control of the car, which hit a pole and burst into flames. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the car's license plate indicated it was a rental car stolen from the San Francisco International Airport.

Anyone with information about the man's identity was asked to contact the coroner's office Investigation Unit at 408-793-1900, ext. 3.