Santa Cruz, CA : Man dies in car that caught fire after crash into tree near Highway 17 in Santa Cruz early Monday morning on September 8, 2014

A driver was killed in a solo SUV crash and fire on La Madrona Drive in Santa Cruz early Monday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The person's gender and age have not yet been released because the severity of the crash made it difficult to identify the person, CHP officer Brad Sadek said. About 1:55 a.m., the driver of a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer headed north on La Madrona Drive and approached Silverwood Drive. The driver failed to negotiate a left turn and struck a tree, Sadek said. A fire started and the driver was trapped. Scotts Valley firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. No one else was in the SUV and no other vehicles were involved. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, but alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors, authorities said. Authorities continued to investigate the crash on Monday afternoon, Sadek said. Source : Santa Cruz County: Man dies in car that caught fire after crash into tree near Highway 17