SEKIU — A man was found dead at the wheel of his burning car after suffering what the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office believes was a medical emergency while driving.
Sekiu resident Jerry Anderson, 70, was found slumped over the steering wheel of a car in a ditch in the 300 block of Washington Street on Saturday by passerby Norman Dale, 71, of Clallam Bay, according to a news release.
The car was beginning to catch fire, and Dale pulled Anderson out of the car with the help of other passersby before the passenger compartment was engulfed in flames.
Deputy Sheriff Joe Pursley responded to the scene at about 4 p.m., and medics arrived and attempted to revive Anderson without success.
Responding firefighters quickly put the fire out before it spread into nearby foliage.
The heat of the engine sitting on dry grass is thought to be the cause of the fire.
The fire spread under the front driver’s side engine compartment and backwards into the rest of the car, completely gutting the car’s interior.
Anderson did not suffer any traumatic injuries in the collision.
There was minimal impact damage to the vehicle, and evidence indicates the car left the road travelling at less than 20 mph.
According to Anderson’s family and physician, he had a history of heart and lung problems for which he was receiving treatment.
The incident is under investigation, but it will likely determine that Anderson had a medical emergency while driving, according to the news release.
