Person dies in vehicle fire off Mendocino County roadway

A driver died early Saturday after their vehicle crashed and caught fire off Highway 101 in Mendocino County, authorities said.

Just before 1:15 a.m., the driver was headed north on the roadway in a Cadillac Escalade when the vehicle went off the shoulder and collided with a tree near Steele Lane in Laytonville, California Highway Patrol-Garberville Sgt. Shawn Gordon said Sunday.

When the CHP arrived, the Cadillac was engulfed in flames.

The driver, who was the sole occupant, was found in the vehicle and pronounced dead, Gordon said.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office will identify the individual after their family is contacted.

CHP is investigating the cause of the crash.

You can reach Staff Writer Madison Smalstig at madison.smalstig@pressdemocrat.com. On X, formerly Twitter, @madi.smals.