Early Morning Car Fire Kills One In Route 35 Parking Lot

The driver of a Jeep that burst into flames outside a bank office on Route 35 died early this morning.

Police are investigating the unusual incident which claimed the life of one around 4 a.m. outside the Wells Fargo branch office in the A & P shopping center at Warren Ave.

Emergency crews from Wall Fire Company 1, Wall Townshp First Aid & Rescue and Wall Police were called to 2007 Route 35 shortly before 4 a.m. for a fully involved vehicle fire. Once the fire was put out, a single occupant, the driver, was found inside, authorities said.

Wall Township Detective Bureau, Wall Township Fire Bureau, Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office, Monmouth County Medical Examiner and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office were called to the scene, authorities said.

No information was immediately available on the cause of the fire or the driver of the Jeep, which police were removing around 7:30 a.m.

An A&P nightshift employee who declined to give his name Wednesday morning said he wanted to help the person inside the car, but the fire was too intense.

The Jeep was located near a rear exit of the shopping center, near New Bedford Road. A rear wheel had exploded from the heat and crews this morning were loading various blackened pieces onto a tow truck.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office is heading up the investigation. First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni at 8 a.m. said there was no further information available.