California man apparently set on fire in gruesome death, family claims; investigation underway The victim died of his injuries hours after CHP

The victim died of his injuries hours after CHP officers found him burning on the side of the road

Highway Patrol officers found a man burning alive on the side of a highway early Friday morning – and now investigators are asking for the public’s help solving the case.

Authorities had been called to the area after reports of a fire on the side of the freeway, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. Then they made a gruesome discovery near the intersection of Sargent Crossing and Highway 101 –  a man inside the flames. Local deputies joined the investigation at around 2:48 a.m.

They rushed the victim, later identified as 40-year-old Gilroy resident Jerry Mungaray, to the Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center Trauma Unit in critical condition – with severe burns across his body, according to the sheriff’s department.