SC man dies after pickup truck overheats and burns

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say a Blythewood man has died after his pickup truck caught fire following a wreck because he didn’t take his foot off the gas pedal.

Investigators say 38-year-old Samuel Burgess Jr. ran off a road in northeast Richland County around 3 a.m. Wednesday and struck a tree.

Authorities say Burgess’ truck was stuck in the sand and the accelerator was held down, causing the engine to overheat and catch fire.

Coroner Gary Watts says investigators don’t know if Burgess was asleep or unconscious with his foot on the gas pedal or if he was trying to get the truck out of the sand and the fire trapped him inside the pickup.

Watts says Burgess died from a combination of burns and smoke inhalation. The wreck remains under investigation.