NEW SHARON — A Mercer Road man died from severe burns suffered in a fire in his car Tuesday night, according to a news release from Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
The fire likely started when fumes from an aerosol can were ignited by a cigarette, McCausland said. Investigators say it was apparent that Casey Turner, 34, was inhaling the fumes, known as “huffing,” according to McCausland.
He suffered severe burns to his face and hands inside his car, which was parked in his driveway, according to the release.
Turner walked to a neighbor’s house to call for help. He was taken by a NorthStar EMS ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta and transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland.
Investigators found several empty aerosol cans inside the car. There was no damage to the car at Turner’s home at 86 Mercer Road.
The State Medical Examiner’s Office continued to work on determining the cause of Turner’s death, which is the fourth fire-related death of the year.
Franklin County sheriff’s deputies responded to the 911 call just before 9 p.m.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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