Smoke possible cause of death in car fire

GARDNERVILLE -- Smoke inhalation was named as the cause of death Monday for an unidentified man found in a burning car in Gardnerville Sunday.

"An autopsy was performed today. The preliminary results indicate the victim died of smoke inhalation," said Sgt. Lance Modispacher of the Douglas County Sheriff's Department.

He said the final cause of death will be determined in four to six weeks after the results of blood work come in.

"The victim remains unidentified until absolute, positive identification is made," Modispacher said.

The man's remains were found in the passenger seat of a burning vehicle in the back parking lot of the JT Basque Bar and Dining Room in Gardnerville early Sunday morning, according to East Fork Fire Protection District reports.

East Fork firefighters rushed to a 911 call of a vehicle fire behind the

restaurant at 4:41 a.m. They quickly extinguished the fire then found the

remains in the passenger side of the car.

A witness described the victim only as "young."

The firefighters who discovered the remains notified the Sheriff's Department, which took over the investigation.

The burned car was almost destroyed. The fire appears to have started in the engine compartment, leaving some undamaged paint on the rear of the car, a witness said.