Fairfield County detectives investigating body found in truck after a fire

CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio — The calls came into dispatchers on Wednesday night around 11:18 reporting a vehicle fire behind the Home Depot in Canal Winchester. When Fairfield County deputies arrived they found a pickup truck fully engulfed, and once the fire was out - deputies found the body of a man badly burned.

The victim was later identified as 76-year-old Thomas W. Kelley of Canal Winchester.

Fairfield County Chief Deputy Alex Lape says they don't suspect foul play but still have many questions.

"What we can tell is that the vehicle was trying to get free from the mud that it was stuck in. We suspect that potentially is what caused the fire to ignite in the vehicle, " Lape said.

While this is still under investigation, ABC6/FOX28 talked to an auto technician about the frequency of vehicles catching on fire under these conditions.

Tim Bohach with Huddle Tire in Lancaster says it's rare that friction alone from the tires spinning would cause the fire. He says something else likely contributed to the truck igniting.

"If the vehicle went off the road it's possible it could have punctured the gas tank that could have done something," said Bohach.

Regardless of how the fire started, he says his heart aches for the family dealing with their loss.

But says it's a reminder to others to be careful when your car is stuck in the mud or snow.

"It's really hard on your whole engine and drive train to spin like that. If you can't get out fairly easily, call for help, " said Bohach.

Detectives are looking at surveillance video as they try to figure out what caused this tragic accident.

Foul play was not suspected.

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