Police found a burning body under a Schuykill Expressway overpass in South Philadelphia early on Thursday.
The person, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was laying on a mattress and “severely burned in the debris,” Fire Capt. William Dixon said,Philly.com reported. “We don’t know if this body was intentionally set on fire or if it was possibly a homeless person who accidentally caught fire trying to keep warm,” Small said.
It is not yet known if the deceased is male or female, but authorities said the body was fully clothed.
The fire was spotted by drivers on I-76 a few minutes earlier on an entrance ramp leading to the Walt Whitman Bridge, according toFox29. Firefighters put out the flames under the eastbound I-76 overpass near Passyunk and Oregon avenues at around 2:30 a.m.,CBS3 reported.
Concrete under 76 East overpass w/blackened burn marks where body found set on fire on mattress 2:33am @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/6IuXAAWdCy
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) November 3, 2016
Preliminary investigations did not show signs of trauma, Fox29 reported, and an autopsy has been scheduled. Theinvestigation is ongoing and the area, including the 20-foot embankment,isconsidered a crime scene.
