Death investigation underway after body found among 'multiple vehicles on fire'

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Cowlitz County officials are trying to piece together a death after a body was found among multiple cars on fire early Wednesday morning.

At 3:33 a.m., a 911 caller reported a fire in the 700 block of Slightly Road in Toutle, Washington. Cowlitz County Fire District 3 initially responded and "found multiple vehicles on fire," officials said.

Firefighters then discovered a dead body in one of the cars after putting out the fire. The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office then responded to launch a death investigation.

"Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office were able to determine that the occupied vehicle, a
truck, had been parked uphill from other vehicles," the sheriff's office said in a release. "The truck appeared to have rolled downhill and then collided with other parked vehicles. A fire is believed to have started near the engine compartment, heavily damaging multiple vehicles."

Though detectives have presumptively identified the person, they're waiting for formal identification from the Cowlitz County Coroner's Office. Officials said they're also waiting for toxicology and autopsy results.