A horrifying scene took place in South San Jose, as a stolen vehicle struck a tree and became "fully engulfed" in flames, resulting in the death of a passenger, according to Mercury News. The unknown driver, who was heading northbound on Meridian Avenue, somehow lost control of the Kia sedan and crashed into a tree before fleeing the scene on foot, leaving the vehicle to be consumed by flames and the passenger to perish in the blaze.

Driver of stolen Kia crashes into tree near Meridian & Woodruff in Almaden neighborhood and runs off. Car bursts into flames, and passenger is found dead inside, per @SanJosePD pic.twitter.com/eQ0ZdbMLNF

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) June 5, 2023

The incident took place near the intersection of Meridian Avenue and Woodruff Drive in San Jose, with police being alerted around 1:26 a.m. this morning, as per a San Jose Police Department report. The authorities' preliminary investigation suggested that excessive speed may have played a role in the collision. It was later discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen, raising more questions about the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident.

Following the crash, emergency personnel arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, which had engulfed the vehicle. Upon further inspection, they tragically discovered the deceased passenger in the car, whose identity has yet to be released, pending confirmation and notification of their next of kin.

At this time, it has not been determined if there were any other passengers in the vehicle during the incident. The driver, who remains unidentified, managed to flee the scene on foot and is currently being sought by authorities. While there is still much more to learn about what transpired during this accident, one thing is clear - a life was tragically lost in a senseless act involving a stolen vehicle.

Tragic accidents like this one are an unfortunate reminder of the dangerous risks and consequences associated with reckless driving and vehicle theft. As noted by Mercury News, this incident marks the city's 18th fatal collision of the year, as well as the 19th traffic death of 2023. 

As the investigation into this tragic event continues, anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Eliseo Malvido of the San Jose Police Department's Traffic Investigations Unit at [email protected] or 408-277-4654. It is hoped that through the efforts of law enforcement, witnesses, and the community, those responsible for this tragedy can be held accountable and justice can be served for the deceased passenger.

San Jose residents and the wider public are urged to be vigilant and report suspicious behavior or incidents involving speeding or vehicle theft, as these actions can lead to devastating outcomes, such as this tragic accident. For those who witness a crime or have information about an ongoing investigation, they can submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or submitting information online at www.svcrimestoppers.org. For those whose information leads to an arrest, they may be eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.