The victim, Ali Seyedin, had been traveling with two other men on Auberry Road near Meadow Lakes to watch the Perseid meteor showers when their Toyota T100 pickup lost control. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver was unable to negotiate a curve, sending the vehicle off the roadway.
The pickup traveled roughly 200 feet down an embankment before striking a tree and coming to rest. Responders with the Auberry Volunteer Fire Department found all three men trapped inside the vehicle.
The driver, a 21-year-old, was transported to Clovis Community Medical Center. The 22-year-old passenger in the right front seat was airlifted by Skylife to Community Regional Medical Center with major injuries. Both were wearing seat belts.
Seyedin, who was seated in the back of the pickup without a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said alcohol and drugs are not suspected in the crash, which remains under investigation.