Police and the fire marshal are investigating a car fire reported Thursday at 11 p.m. on Talmadge Street in Derby.
A vehicle apparently drove off the dead-end street and into a wooded area. Next, the car was in flames.
Derby firefighters arrived to extinguish the flames — but the vehicle’s driver was nowhere to be seen.
Derby Fire Department Assistant Chief David Lenart said firefighters checked the area with thermal imaging cameras to see whether anyone could be found.
No one was located in the car or the area.
Lenart said the incident has been turned over to the Derby Police Department and the Derby Fire Marshal’s Office.
Derby Fire Marshal Phil Hawks said the fire did not start in the vehicle’s engine, but in the passenger compartment. The precise cause is still under investigation.
Derby police Lt. Sal Frosceno said an officer had tried to stop the vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle failed to stop and the officer pursued for a very short time, then called off the pursuit.
A short time later police received the report of an accident and subsequent fire on Talmadge Street and discovered it was the same car the officer had pursued earlier.
Frosceno said police are investigating and that no arrests have been made.
