Orange resident, 82, identified as victim from Pleasure Island car fire

Published 3:10 pm Friday, August 2, 2024

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The name of a woman that was found dead after her vehicle caught fire has been released.

Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett said the woman is identified as Betty Baham, 82, of Orange.

First responders were called at about 2:13 p.m. Thursday to the 2700 block of North Levee Road on Pleasure Island in reference to a vehicle on fire.

Baham was driving a Chevrolet SUV and was the sole occupant.

The vehicle was found in such a condition it was almost impossible to determine the VIN number or license plate, Burnett said.

The cause of the fire has not been determined by officials with the Port Arthur Fire Department though officials said the woman might have had a medical emergency and drove off the road trying to turn around. The fire may have started from grass and weeds coming into contact with the SUV’s exhaust.

Burnett has ordered an autopsy.