MIDDLETOWN – A 23-year-old Lompoc man died Friday when his pickup struck a group of trees outside of Middletown.

California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia reported that Robert Gescheider died in the crash, which occurred at 11:50 p.m. Friday.

Gescheider was driving a 1997 Dodge Pickup – registered out of Middletown – westbound on Highway 29 and west of the Dry Creek Cutoff when the crash took place, Garcia reported.

Garcia said Gescheider was unable to negotiate a curve in the road and traveled off the road's north edge, where his pickup struck a group of oak trees before it came to rest partially in the westbound lane.

Gescheider sustained fatal injuries as a result of this collision and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Garcia.

The collision investigation is still in progress but alcohol and speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in this collision, said Garcia reported.

Garcia said Officer Kory Reynolds is investigating the incident.

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