Two men who were reported missing Wednesday from Lompoc were found dead Sunday near their vehicle that apparently had plunged 500 feet off a mountain road above Santa Barbara.
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The men have been identified as David Esquivel, 24, of Santa Maria and Oscar Hernandez, 23, of Lompoc, sheriff’s spokesperson Kelly Hoover said.
The men were acquaintances, according to the Sheriff’s Office, and had been reported missing to the Lompoc Police Department.
They were last seen or heard from on September 7.
Santa Barbara County Fire says a hang-glider spotted the crash while flying over a remote area of Gibraltar Road and called authorities about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Zaniboni said both had been ejected from the vehicle as it careened down the hillside.
A CalStar helicopter, a Santa Barbara County Air Support helicopter and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team also responded. The auto had plunged more than 600 feet and the bodies were found nearby.
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Sheriff’s detectives are assisting the Coroner’s Bureau to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
