Questions remain after crash, fatal fire

By Jessie Burchette

jburchette@salisburypost

The death of a 45-year-old man in a fiery wreck Jan. 29 continues to puzzle investigators.

Brian Keith Gordon, of 1040 Starhaven Lane, died around 9 p.m. when his vehicle went off the right side of snow-covered Skyview Circle and caught fire.

Initial reports suggested he may have been trapped in the 2000 Chrysler Cirrus, but investigators now say the door locks appeared to be working and the driver's side door would have swung open.

According to the N.C. Highway patrol report, there were tire tracks in the snow — from spinning front wheels — that showed Gordon tried to drive or back out of the ditch.

Trooper M.T. Easton of the N.C. Highway Patrol reported Gordon was not trapped, his seat belt was not fastened and no air bag deployed. Gordon's vehicle was estimated to be going 10 mph — likely due to the snowstorm that had started earlier last Friday evening.

Deborah Horne, an investigator with the Rowan County Fire Marshal's Office, said the fire started under the vehicle toward the rear — possibly the catalytic converter.

"The back was burned off. É There was a lot of heat and smoke," Horne said, indicating Gordon may have died from smoke inhalation.

The first firefighters on the scene from the Woodleaf department saw flames coming from inside the car.

The initial report of the accident came into the county's 911 center at 8:54 p.m. on Jan. 29. A passing motorist used a cell phone to report the wreck, saying the vehicle was off in the woods and was on fire.

The caller, who also said the vehicle was on its side, couldn't tell if anyone was in the car. The caller told the 911 operators the car was about 25 percent involved in flames.

Fire investigators are waiting for better weather to inspect the Chrysler, which was towed to an outdoor impound area. First Sgt. B.E. Hower of the N.C. Highway Patrol said the agency is awaiting reports from the medical examiner and the fire marshal's office.