Car fire victim finally identified

After more than three weeks, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Monday formally identified the man who died in a March 2 car fire as John Thomas Solak, 21.

Sheriff's Sgt. Lance Modispacher said the exact cause of death is pending toxicology tests.

The body of Solak, a California resident who was visiting relatives in the Gardnerville Ranchos, was found in the burned car behind JT Basque Restaurant and Dining Room in Gardnerville about 4:30 a.m.

East Fork Fire District arson investigators have determined the fire was an accident caused by "a failure of an under-hood mechanical system, which ignited surrounding combustible materials."