Remains found in burning car at Douglas restaurant

A person's remains were found in a burning vehicle in the back parking lot of the JT Basque Bar and Dining Room in Gardnerville early Sunday morning, according to East Fork Fire Protection District reports.

East Fork firefighters responded to a 911 call of a vehicle fire behind the restaurant at 4:41 a.m. They quickly extinguished the fire then found the remains in the passenger side of the car.

A witness described the victim only as "young."

The firefighters who discovered the remains notified the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, which took over the investigation. No one involved in the case could be reached for comment.

The victim's identification has not been released, pending notification of next of kin. An autopsy is being performed to determine the exact cause of death.

The owner of the bar, JB Lekumberry, said deputies had cordoned off the parking lot with yellow tape as a possible crime scene. But later the tape was later taken down.

"I think they've pretty much ruled out a crime," he said.

The burned car, described as newer, was almost totally destroyed. The fire appears to have started in the engine compartment, leaving some undamaged paint on the rear of the vehicle, said Lekumberry.

"It was just a terrible accident," he said.

The blackened car was removed Sunday.