Body Found In Burning Vehicle On Highway 1 In Sonoma County: CHP

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Authorities are working to identify a body found inside a car on fire early Christmas Eve morning on state Highway 1 north of Salmon Creek and Bodega Bay, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP patrol units responded at 12:39 a.m. Monday to a report of a vehicle fire and found a 2008 GMC truck engulfed in flames, CHP Officer David deRutte said.

The truck was about 90 feet down a cliff on the west side of the roadway, deRutte said.

"A solo deceased occupant, who has yet to be identified, was located inside the vehicle," deRutte said. "Officers will be investigating whether impairment, medical or mechanical issues were attributing factors to this collision."

Southbound SR-1 was closed early Monday while the fatal incident was investigated. The roadway was reopened at 7:30 a.m.

DeRutte asked anyone who may have information regarding the fatal incident to call the Santa Rosa Area CHP Office at 707-588-1400.

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