Portola Valley, CA : Charles Derwin, 23, killed in solo car crash in San Mateo County early Sunday morning, December 27, 2015

Charles Derwin, 23, of Portola Valley, died in a solo car crash on Portola Road early Sunday morning, according to the San Mateo County Coroner's Office.

Derwin was the youngest son of Portola Valley Mayor Maryann Moise Derwin.

The Woodside Fire Protection District received a call around 12:20 a.m. from a resident who heard the collision. Fire Chief Dan Ghiorso said a crew arrived on the scene about four minutes later to find a gray 2011 Toyota Prius engulfed in flames in the middle of the road. It was near the shopping plaza at 884 Portola Road.

After the fire was extinguished, and the smoke cleared sufficiently, firefighters discovered a body in the car.

"They had no knowledge that there was somebody in the vehicle," Ghiorso said. "Typically, with car fires, they have left the scene."

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and the coroner also responded to the scene, and the coroner declared the driver dead at the scene.

First responders reported that the vehicle had apparently hit a stop sign and a tree, and then rolled back onto the road, with major impact damage to the front of the Prius and damage to the tree.

Detective Sal Zuno said the Sheriff's Office's Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the incident.

"We don't yet know all the factors in the collision," Zuno said Tuesday. "We still don't know the cause of death. That is to be determined by the Coroner's Office."

Zuno said that stretch of roadway, at that time of night, usually is not too busy, but that "If anybody saw anything, please let us know at 650-363-4911, or call our anonymous tip line at 800-547-2700."

In email Tuesday, Mayor Moise Derwin said her youngest son, Charles Theophilus Derwin -- known as Charlie -- was born on Aug. 25, 1992, at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, and raised in Portola Valley. He attended Ormondale Elementary and Corte Madera Middle schools and Sacred Heart and Woodside high schools, and graduated from Stansbury Academy in Utah. He was in his final year at the University of San Francisco, majoring in communication.

"He aspired to be a teacher," said Moise Derwin, "inspired by his work with young boys as a basketball coach. He was a hip-hop musician and writer, and a talented basketball player.

"He was thoughtful, kind, sensitive, a deep philosophical thinker and beloved by his friends."

Derwin is survived by his mother, Moise Derwin of Portola Valley; his father, Douglas Derwin of San Francisco; his brother, Will Derwin of Washington, D.C.; his uncle Dan Derwin of San Francisco; his aunt Nanno Geller and uncle George Vanderhoof of Sacramento; and many cousins.

"How am I doing?" said Moise Derwin. "One foot in front of the other trying to get through each day. Nothing can prepare you for the depths of sorrow that come with losing a child you have loved with all your heart for 23 years."

Source :

Portola Valley man killed in solo car crash Sunday