Driver died in San Diego was probably trying to save dog, officials say

A person found dead in the backseat of a burned car in Potrero, San Diego this week. He was probably attempting to save a pet dog from the flaming vehicle, officials said Friday.

Both the unidentified victim and animal died Thursday in the car fire, which resulted in a three-acre brush fire that briefly threatened homes in the location, the San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Ricardo Lopez said.

The cause of the fire still being probed.

The brush fire was reported about 2:20 p.m., according to Lopez and Cal Fire San Diego spokesman Capt. Thomas Shoots. Fire crews were able to stop its spread by 3 p.m.

Officials believe the person who died was the car’s driver, who got out of the burning car and then went back to try to save the dog.

The county medical examiner’s office will figure out the cause and manner of death, Lopez said.

The victim’s identity was not released.