Body Found In Burned Out Car In Irvine

IRVINE (CBSLA.com) — Police Wednesday were investigating the death of a person whose body was found inside a burned out car in Irvine.

A jogger found the charred car and body around 9:20 a.m. down along San Diego Creek near Harvard Avenue and Michelson Drive, Irvine police Lt. Julia Engen said.

"Preliminary investigation has not produced any evidence of a collision," Engen added.

A coroner was called to the scene to investigate.

The gender or age of the victim was not able to be determined due to the burns.

Officials told CBS2's Michele Gile that the area where the car was found is popular among joggers and bicyclists during the day but at night the area becomes quite desolate.

Authorities told Gile both the car -- which was partly submerged -- and the body were badly burned.

Investigators are trying to determine if a murder was committed and the body later dumped here or if this is a case of possible suicide, Gile reported.

Anyone with information should call Irvine police at (949) 724-7000.