ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / September 29, 1999

ST. ROSE – A vehicle caught on fire Friday evening while travelingwestbound on Interstate 10 near the I-310 interchange, where it halted, totally engulfed in flame.

The driver was unable to escape, and he died in the car. Identification wasmade nearly impossible, due to the thoroughness of the fire.

Kevin Cannatella of Louisiana State Troop B reported that the 1998 Buick was seen with fire coming from under the rear end of the vehicle. Aftertraveling some seven miles along I-10, the car smacked the left wall, then came to a halt against the right-hand wall at 7:24 p.m.According to investigating Trooper Chris Maurin, several witnesses tried to approach the car to help the driver but were driven back by the intense heat.

Tentative identification was made by personal items in the vehicle, but no name has been released.

“They have a possible ID, but it’s not confirmed,” Cannatella continued.

He added a DNA check is under way to definitely identify the nearly- consumed driver.

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