Deputies working to determine if driver was passed out drunk before fatal fire, authorities say

A driver was burned to death in his vehicle and his death is now being investigated as a homicide, authorities said. (KPRC)

HOUSTON – A driver was burned to death in his vehicle and his death is now being investigated as a homicide, authorities said.

Deputies said they got a call about a fiery crash around 3:30 a.m. Saturday at a trailer park on White Oak Place and White Oak Circle in northwest Harris County.

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The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said when they arrived, they found an SUV fully engulfed in flames. The driver had been trapped inside and was unable to be rescued.

Authorities initially thought the incident was a fatal crash, but after further investigation, they determined it was a homicide.

Deputies said the man and his wife were having some type of issue and his wife was staying at the trailer park.

The man showed up and parked outside the residence, so she called authorities to let them know he was not supposed to be there, authorities said.

According to authorities, the vehicle caught fire at some point. Neighbors who noticed the flames tried to get the man out, but couldn't because of the blaze.

The man is known to be a heavy drinker and that could be the reason he didn't get out of the vehicle when it caught fire, authorities said.

Deputies said they are working to determine if he may have passed out before the fire.

No one else was injured in the crash. The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office is helping in the investigation.


About the Author

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.

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