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From the article linked just above your post:

“a key theory is that Turton was trying to maneuver her SUV out of the garage and past a car in the driveway when she struck flammable materials.

An autopsy has been conducted, but results from toxicology tests had not been returned late Wednesday. A cause of death had not been reported.”

REM: a LONG time ago, I was a certified volunteer fire fighter.

NOTE: the pics in the newspaper showed a remarkably undamaged rear of that BMW SUV. The vehicle and its interior did not seem to be terribly involved in the fire. But I was not there, and we only have the one pic.

NOTE: striking flammable materials (say a lawn mower gas can) does not cause it to explode into flames. First it leaks, then it needs a source of ignition. The ‘investigator’ needs to establish a fuel, the point of origin, the source of ignition etc. IOW, why was there a fire? Right now there is only a theory.

NOTE: if gas fumes from a leaking container explode outside your vehicle, that doesn’t mean you’ll die inside your car. Once the fumes have burned/exploded, you may have a fire/damage to deal with, but you have a good chance of being ‘safe’ inside your car. Think of the videos you have seen of fires at gas pumps. The fire stays outside the car.

Note: what gear was the car in? Park, Reverse? Drive? Was the ignition on? These are questions for the CSI.

NOTE: we don’t yet have a COD. Smoke/ toxic fume inhalation would *appear* to be the only cause of death related to a fire, simply by looking at the level of ‘un-damage’ to the car. BUT ... that will be revealed by an autopsy on her lungs and toxicology tests.

*IF* she was dead before the fire — e.g. a cardiac arrest or aneurism — then her lungs would be clear.

*IF* she was unconscious (medical/ trauma/ other) then she would be breathing and could have died from asphyxiation, smoke inhalation/toxicity. that will show up in the autopsy/toxicity tests.

So:
(1) was she dead or dying prior to the fire?
(2) did she die from fire/smoke-related causes?
(3) what gear was the car in?
(4) was the ignition on?
(5) where/why/how did the fire start and propagate?
(6) why was she in and/or moving the vehicle at ~5 AM? (or had it been idling for hours after the initial ‘wreck’ occurred say at 2 AM)

Curious, but not sinister.

Tragic a family lost their mom and bride.

“(1) was she dead or dying prior to the fire?
(2) did she die from fire/smoke-related causes?
(3) what gear was the car in?
(4) was the ignition on?
(5) where/why/how did the fire start and propagate?
(6) why was she in and/or moving the vehicle at ~5 AM? (or had it been idling for hours after the initial ‘wreck’ occurred say at 2 AM)”

I have been looking at this story very closely. Right now, from what has been released, I think the answer to 1-5 is “unknown” at this point. As for 6) Neighbors told reporters she was leaving early for work. With DC traffic as it is that sounded plausible to me. People I know go in early and leave at 3:30 or so to miss traffic both ways.