Austrian woman dies after car catches fire in Mount Pelion

An elderly woman from Austria died when the car she was driving on a rural road in South Pelion veered off the road and caught fire, Greek police said on Saturday.

The accident happened late Friday night when the woman, who had been living in Greece for the past few years, was driving back from a visit to friends in the village of Platanias. Authorities believe that at some point she lost control of the vehicle and end up in a ditch. The car then caught fire, likely because it had a fuel or oil leak, trapping the 80-year-old and her dog inside. Residents nearby heard explosions and rushed at the scene along with fire fighters who found her charred remains in the car.

The Police and the Fire Brigade are conducting a preliminary investigation to ascertain the causes of the accident.