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Crash, explosion & fatal fire in Shelby County

News

November 29th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

One person died in an explosion and fire Tuesday night, in Harlan. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports Harlan Police and Fire, Medivac Ambulance and Sheriff’s Deputies were called to 4025 Ridgeway Drive at around 11:18-p.m. When officers arrived, they located a vehicle next to a shed in the back yard of the property. The vehicle and shed were fully engulfed in flames. After the fire was extinguished, human remains were found inside the vehicle. The remains will be sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and cause of death.

An initial investigation determined the vehicle was traveling north on Highway 59 when it left the road near the intersection with Hawkeye Avenue. The vehicle traveled across a grassy area before striking several trees. It then came to rest against the shed, where both caught fire. No names or other information will be released at this time, pending positive ID of the victim and notification of family. The incident remains an ongoing investigation.