Those that knew the victim and witnessed this tragic incident say they are not sure exactly what happened and why the buggy caught fire, but this Memorial Day weekend could not have started any worse.

Sergeant Jerry Nelson with California Highway Patrol said early Friday evening they received a call of a sand rail on fire just off of highway 14 near Horse Canyon Road.

“They explained to the officer who arrived on scene first that they observed the vehicle catch on fire and there was a father and a son in the vehicle. The father was able to extricate himself from the vehicle but the son was not,” said Nelson.

Witnesses who preferred not to speak on camera said the father and son were part of a group that visited this area a few times a year. 

The son had a love for buggies and the father enjoyed spending the time with his son.

But as the holiday weekend was just starting Officer Nelson also said that accidents and reports tend to occur more often on these weekends.

“It's not unusual on holiday weekends to see injuries out in areas like this, cause you're going to see a lot more people camping and joy riding out here during this time,” said Nelson.

CHP officials are also reporting another fatality in the same area, this one near Jawbone Canyon after the rider had collided with a boulder and sustained a major injury.