ORLAND, IN (WTVB) – The apparent driver of a SUV died on Sunday afternoon when the vehicle crashed into a tree and burst into flames in western Steuben County.
The Steuben County Sheriff’s Department says the crash happened just after 3:30 pm in the area of State Road 327 north of U.S. 20.
Deputies found a gold colored Ford SUV fully engulfed in flames. Once the fire was fully suppressed, the deceased occupant was removed from inside the vehicle.
A preliminary investigation at the scene indicated that the vehicle was traveling south at a high rate of speed when it went off the road for an unknown reason and crash head-on with a large tree which ignited the fire.
The deceased occupant appeared to be the driver of the vehicle. The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
The identity of the driver is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin by the Steuben County Coroner’s Office.
Assisting the Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Indiana State Police, Orland Police, Orland Fire Department, Steuben County EMS, and the Steuben County Coroner’s Office.
