Cambria Man Found Dead in Truck at Shell Beach Gas Station: Police Suspect The

By The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Feb. 25–Pismo Beach police suspect a man who was found dead in his truck at a gas station in Shell Beach on Friday overdosed on heroin.

Andrew Houghton, 33, was discovered in his Toyota Tacoma around 4 a.m. after a Chevron gas station attendant on Shell Beach Road called police to report an unresponsive person, detectives said.

It is unknown if Houghton died in the vehicle or was left there, Cmdr. Jeff Norton said. Police were questioning another person Friday evening in connection with the death but would not say if the person was suspected of selling drugs to Houghton.

Police said Houghton, of Cambria, was a drug user. He left work Thursday and went to Shell Beach, Cmdr. Scott Smith said.

Witnesses in the area said he had been parked at the gas station since early Thursday evening, Smith said. Detectives believe Houghton parked there to use the drugs.

Detectives are waiting for the results of an autopsy. Anyone with information about the case should call the Pismo Beach Police at 773-2208.

— Leslie Parrilla

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

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