Body found in burning car

Updated 5:41 p.m.

By Lindsey Ward
lward@wsls.com

After detectives collected evidence and the car towed, all that remains is charred ground.

Sometime late Wednesday afternoon, the medical examiner determined the person inside the burning car died from smoke inhalation resulting from a traffic accident.

The report says "after leaving the roadway, the vehicle came to a rest in an overgrown field and caught fire. The victim was unable to extricate themselves from the vehicle."

However, a cause of death doesn't mean the investigation is over, many questions still remain. Like who's body was found burned inside.

We spoke to Bedford’s Chief of Police who was quick to call the scene suspicious.

“There was a charred car with a body and a lot of damage to the vehicle,” explained Jim Day, Chief of Bedford City Police.

So much damage the medical examiner and police were unable to identify the person. After authorities completed the investigation at the scene and left, we found many items from the burned car, including court papers and pictures of someone that appears to have been abused.

10 On Your Side handed it over to the Bedford Police Chief. He was surprised evidence was left at the scene and he says it will go to the hands of investigators.

“We're still examining some of the evidence that we recovered from the scene,” said Day.

Police say they believe they know who the person inside the car is, but they're waiting on a positive identification from the medical examiner's office to release information.

In the mean time, they have notified the owner of the car. The car did have out of state tags.

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Updated 3:19 p.m.

Bedford Police tell us an autopsy by the Medical Examiner's Officer in Roanoke found that the person died from smoke inhilation, due to a traffic accident.

Investgators believe after the car drove off the road, it stopped in an overgrown field and caught fire. Police believe the victim was not able to get out in time.

The body is severely burned, and has not been identified yet.

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Updated: 8:14 a.m.

Police Chief Jim Day tells 10 On Your Side that they are treating this case as suspicious.

Day says the car had out of state tags.

They hope to have a cause of death and information on the identity of the body from the Medical Examiner today.

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Bedford Police are investigating after a body is found inside a burning car.

The Police and Fire Departments were called to Ole Turnpike Drive in Bedford City around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

They say a car ran off the road and caught fire.

The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The body has not been identified.

Police are investigating.