Former SLED agent dies in brush fire

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A former State Law Enforcement Division agent has been identified as the victim in an unusual brush fire in Lexington County.

The Lexington County coroner’s office said an autopsy was planned Friday on the body of 80-year-old Lawrence “Pete” Brooks of the Hopkins area in Richland County.

The State newspaper of Columbia reported there was no indication of foul play.

Chief Deputy Coroner Chris Lorick says doctors at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., said Brooks died of multiple organ failure Wednesday.

A police report states Brooks was giving a friend a ride home around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when he stopped to look at a piece of property he was considering buying. The report says Brooks’ car got stuck in some sand and caught fire after repeated attempts to dislodge it.