KEY POINTS:
The name of the man killed when his car caught fire after hitting a bridge near Fairlie in South Canterbury will not be released until he has been formally identified, police say.
Emergency services found the body in a burning car on State Highway 8 near the intersection with Cricklewood Road about 12.30am today.
A Timaru police spokesman said police would not release the name or age of the suspected victim until he was properly identified from dental records.
Fairlie Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Jim Irving said the bridge, in a 100km/h speed zone, was notorious for accidents.
The car was travelling from Timaru to Fairlie, had hit the bridge and caught fire.
By the time firefighters arrived the car was "completely gutted", he said.
- NZPA
