The Lead Off
- Authorities are investigating a death after a body was discovered inside a burning vehicle in Grant County on Wednesday morning.
- The Grant County Sheriff’s Department says the vehicle was found fully engulfed in flames following an OnStar alert.
- Multiple agencies, including fire and state investigators, are involved in determining the cause and identifying the victim.
GRANT COUNTY, IND. (WOWO) A death investigation is underway in Grant County after authorities say a body was discovered inside a burning vehicle on Wednesday morning.
According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched after receiving an OnStar alert involving a 2021 Chevrolet. OnStar is a built-in emergency and safety system in vehicles manufactured by General Motors.
Officials said the vehicle was located approximately 375 feet southwest of 8320 East 852 South, along an isolated lane in rural Grant County.
Fire crews find vehicle fully engulfed
When deputies arrived, they found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.
Fire crews from the Matthews Fire Department and the Upland Fire Department responded to the scene and were able to extinguish the fire.
After the blaze was brought under control, responders discovered a human body in the driver’s seat, according to officials.
Victim not yet identified
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased.
Investigators confirmed the vehicle is registered in Texas, though it is not yet clear who was operating it at the time of the fire or how the fire began.
Multiple agencies investigating scene
The investigation remains ongoing and includes multiple agencies working to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the death.
Agencies involved include the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, a Marion Fire Department arson investigator, and the Grant County Coroner’s Office.
Officials have not released any additional information regarding possible causes of the fire or whether foul play is suspected.
The Takeaway
- A death investigation is underway in Grant County after a body was found inside a vehicle that was fully engulfed in flames following an OnStar alert.
- Fire crews extinguished the blaze near an isolated rural road before discovering a human body in the driver’s seat of a Texas-registered 2021 Chevrolet.
- Multiple law enforcement and fire agencies are investigating, and the identity of the victim has not yet been released as the investigation continues.
