PALM CITY – Martin County Sheriff’s Office deputies are working to positively identify the victim of a truck fire which occurred on June 13 off the side of the road near Citrus Boulevard and Pineapple Court in Palm City.
At about 9 p.m., June 13, deputies and Martin County Fire-Rescue crews responded to a fully engulfed truck fire, according to a sheriff’s office Facebook posting.
When first responders arrived, the driver was deceased and burned beyond recognition, according to the Facebook posting. It was initially believed the fire was the result of a traffic crash, but, after further investigation, that possibility was ruled out, and Criminal Investigations Division detectives were called to the scene, according to the Facebook posting.
The investigation revealed that the fire may have been caused by the truck’s exhaust igniting grass beneath the vehicle. For reasons unknown, the driver was unable to escape the truck, according to the Facebook posting.
Detectives believe they have identified the victim and have communicated with his family, but because of the condition of the decedent’s body, a positive identification cannot be confirmed until DNA testing is completed. Those results could take several weeks.