Major crime unit called after body found in burned vehicle in B.C. Interior

Police lights are seen in this file photo.

Police are investigating after a body was found in a burned-out vehicle in the B.C. Interior Tuesday.

Emergency responders were called to Highway 97C in Merritt for a report of a single vehicle fire, the B.C. RCMP said in a news release Wednesday.

Once the fire was extinguished, crews discovered “a single, deceased occupant” inside the vehicle, police said.

“The Southeast District Major Crime Unit has assumed conduct of the investigation and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Smart, the officer in charge of the unit, in the release.

“At this time, the cause of the fire and any potential foul play remains under investigation.”