Driver dies in burning car after fleeing Forest Acres police

One person died in a vehicle fire after allegedly fleeing police on Two Notch Road Sunday morning.

The Forest Acres Police Department tried to make a traffic stop in the 5200 block of Two Notch Road around 3:15 a.m. when the vehicle drove off at a high rate of speed, according to a news release from Richland County Coroner Gary Watts.

As the driver tried to get away, the vehicle went off the right side of the road, striking several utility poles and a fence, said Lance Cpl. Matt Southern of the S.C. Highway Patrol. The vehicle caught fire with the driver trapped inside in the 3100 block of Two Notch Road.

Watts asked Sunday for the public’s help identifying the victim.

The vehicle involved is believed to have been a Nissan Altima. It has been determined that the driver was a female and she was killed by blunt force trauma due to the crash. However, as a result of the fire, identification by normal means is impossible.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Richland County Coroner’s Office at (803) 576-1799.

The patrol is investigating.

This story was originally published May 29, 2016 at 10:17 AM with the headline "Driver dies in burning car after fleeing Forest Acres police."