Fatal car fire in Cottonwood Heights likely an accident, police say
Nov 14, 2024, 11:38 AM
Police say a fatal car fire in Cottonwood Heights was likely accidental. (KSL TV)
(KSL TV)
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah — A fatal car fire in Cottonwood Heights this week was likely drug-related and accidental, police said on Wednesday.
Firefighters were called to an apartment complex on Fort Union Boulevard late Tuesday night for a car fire.
Cottonwood Heights Police Lt. Scott Ricks said authorities found a man near the car who appeared to have died from an accidental explosion.
Originally, the people reporting the fire didn’t know a person had been harmed.
“They called it in as a small car fire and by the time fire [personnel] got there, it had gotten larger,” Ricks said.
Ricks said the fire is still under investigation, but investigators said it was an accident.
“It looked like he was using a butane torch to light a meth pipe and it caused an explosion.”
The Unified Fire Authority said the man was 31 years old and that his family had been notified.
Authorities believe he was experiencing homelessness.
The fire damaged two cars and a carport but no apartments were affected.
