A car ran off Interstate 5 near Dever-Conner and caught fire Wednesday night, killing the driver.

Oregon State Police are investigating, and as of this morning the victim had not been positively identified. Police could not say whether the driver was a man or woman.

According to state police, the 2005 Toyota Corolla with a Washington license plate was traveling south on I-5 just south of the Santiam River. For an unknown reason, the car went off the right shoulder and down an embankment. It went through blackberry bushes and continued for about 300 feet.

The initial investigation indicated that the car's gasoline tank may have ruptured, causing the fire.

Jefferson firefighters responded to a call at 9:33 p.m. reporting an unknown type of fire.

The blaze at first, appeared to be a brush fire, but firefighters soon discovered the car fully involved in flames deep in the brush.

After extinguishing the flames, firefighters found the driver dead in the car.

The driver appeared to have been the only person in the car, according to state police.

Democrat-Herald