Housing and Development Newsletter
Ruiz’s death was the first fatality at the Oceano Dunes since the popular off-roading park near Pismo Beach reopened following a lengthy coronavirus-related closure.
The Oceano Dunes had been closed to vehicle use from March 2020 to October, when the park opened to 1,000 street-legal cars on the beach per day.
Then, in February, the park further reopened to allow 1,000 off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and 1,000 street-legal cars on the dunes per day. The park also opened 100 overnight camping spots.
The Oceano Dunes entered its final reopening phase on June 15.
Before Ruiz’s death, the most recent death at the dunes occured on July 13, 2019, when 18-year-old Sacramento teen Alan Chernitskiy went off a 30-foot dune and fell off the bike he was riding.
California State Parks reported that one man was killed and two others were injured in a crash at the Oceano Dunes involving a Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle (ROV) on Saturday.
Partially clad body found in the surf at Pismo Beach
April 7, 2021
A couple strolling the beach and searching for sea shells found a dead body in the surf at Pismo Beach State Park early Wednesday morning.
Shortly before 3 a.m., the couple from Maricopa decided to search for shells during low tide. The couple, who asked to have their names withheld, then found the body of a male clad in only black socks and a black T-shirt, they said.
The body, partially covered in sand, was in the edges of the surf.
At this time, the deceased person has not been identified, said Chief Ranger Kevin Pearce. CalCoastNews will update information as it becomes available.