The Erie County Coroner's Office and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a fatal vehicle fire Monday night.


It happened East of Route 97 near Interstate 90.


Coroner Lyell Cook so far is investigating the death as an accident.


Preliminary reports are that a male was driving a van south on Route 97.


It appears that he lost control, ran off the East side of the road, hit a drainage ditch and the van caught on fire. The driver wasn't able to escape the fire and died in the van.


He was pronounced dead at 10:30 Monday night.


The coroner plans an autopsy. He is working to identify the victim.

The van was registered to a local man.