Fatal fire baffles

Grief-stricken family members are dumbfounded by a car explosion that killed a 50-year-old farmer.

Shirley Ann Dunlop died from burns on Friday morning after her ute was engulfed in flames on a remote South Taranaki road the night before.

The cause is under investigation but police have ruled out homicide and a crash.

Shirley was returning to the Matapu farm she owned with husband Brian after visiting friends in New Plymouth. Two passersby found the mother-of-six 80m from the burning ute at 10pm on Thursday night.

She suffered burns to 90 per cent of her body and, after an overnight bedside vigil by family and friends, died at Taranaki Base Hospital at 6.40am on Friday.

Brian was too distraught to speak to the Herald on Sunday, but

South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop, Brian's cousin, said not knowing what happened was the worst part.

"Shirley was a fantastic worker and wife. She was just a great person."