Man dies after car burns in Rolla

A man died after a car fire in the parking lot of a state office building on Monday morning. Rolla Fire Chief Ronald Smith does not suspect foul play.

The fire was reported shortly after 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the Missouri Probation and Parole Office at 1105 Kingshighway. The caller said someone was in the burning car.

By the time firefighters arrived, two bystanders pulled the unresponsive man from the car and started CPR. Firefighters and paramedics continued medical care and took the man to the hospital in Rolla, but he did not survive.

The victim was 46 years old. Investigators believe he suffered a medical emergency while seated inside his running vehicle. When he fell unconscious, his foot caused the vehicle’s engine to race at high speed. The engine overheated and the vehicle caught fire.

Rolla police detectives, a city fire marshal, and investigators from the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the fatal fire.

“Everyone worked quickly to assess the incident and provide immediate care for the occupant and also extinguishing the fire. Special thanks should also be given to those who helped rescue the occupant from the car and removed the person from immediate harm,” said Smith.