Ferrari horror smash leaves driver, 71, dead and supercar split in half after high speed crash

Shocking footage shows the aftermath of a three-car smash in California on Friday, which left a Ferrari sliced in half.

Robert Nicoletti, a 71-year-old retired dental salesman from Orange County, was killed when his red Ferrari crashed into a silver Mazda SUV and a blue Toyota.

The other two drivers were unharmed.

Police said they do not believe alcohol was involved, but high speed could have been a factor, as Nicoletti's Ferrari accelerated to prevent a Tesla behind from overtaking.

The crash happened in Santiago Canyon, near the town of Silverado, which is located in the Santa Ana Mountains in eastern Orange County. 

California Highway Patrol said they were called around 3:40pm.

They found a scene of shocking devastation, with the cars mangled and smashed - and the 2015 Ferrari cut in two.

Debris scattered the road, and dirt was thrown up from the hillsides.

The red 2015 Ferrari is pictured sheared in half from the accident on Friday

Firefighters are pictured on the scene in Santiago Canyon, about 42 miles southeast of Los Angeles

Parts of the red Ferrari are seen scattered all over the road. The driver reportedly accelerated to prevent a Tesla from overtaking

Wreckage from the cars is seen all over the road, with the silver Mazda and blue Toyota 

Parts of the red Ferrari can be seen to the left, many meters from the crash impact

The car was turned into a heap of almost unrecognizable metal

The Ferrari was in the middle of the road, with the Mazda and Toyota spun off to the side

The Mazda and Toyota were damaged in the front, but the Ferrari was almost unrecognizable.

The Tesla did not stop. 

Anselmo Templado, a public information officer for the California Highway Patrol, said that Nicoletti sustained fatal injuries when he was ejected from the vehicle, due to the force of the impact. 

He said that Nicoletti was going too fast and unable to navigate the curve.

'Speed was probably a factor,' said Sgt. Kris Ulibarri with the CHP's Santa Ana office. 

'We're still investigating, but as you can see the Ferrari is split in half.'