An investigation was underway Thursday after a burning car in Lakeside led to the discovery of a body.

Deputies and firefighters were sent to the 11200 block of Mast Boulevard after a vehicle fire was reported around 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, according to San Diego Sheriff‘s Lt. Kenneth Nelson. The vehicle was found at the end of the cul-de-sac fully engulfed in flames.

The body was found after the fire was extinguished, and based on the circumstances, homicide and arson unit detectives were summoned to investigate, Nelson said.

It was not immediately clear whether the vehicle had been involved in a crash before it caught fire.

Nelson said the incident was being investigated as a suspicious death and the county Medical Examiner’s Office would conduct an autopsy to determine the victim’s identity and how that person died.

— City News Service

Chris Jennewein is founder and senior editor of Times of San Diego.