FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A 22-year-old man who was not wearing his seatbelt died after crashing into a tree early Wednesday morning near Meadow Lakes, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP says the crash happened around 1:45 a.m. on Auberry Road near Beal Fire Road.

Fire officials with the Auberry Volunteer Fire Department say that the victims were trapped in the vehicle and had to be rescued after going down a 200-foot embankment.

CHP investigators say a Toyota T100 pickup truck driven by a 21-year-old man from Clovis was unable to negotiate a curve, causing the Toyota to travel off the roadway and collide with a tree.

The driver and a 22-year-old who was a right front passenger, both wearing seat belts, sustained moderate to major injuries.

A 22-year-old man, wh

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