Columbia fire victim identified, death not from natural causes

UPDATE 12/13: ABC 17 News has learned that Tackett’s death was not from natural causes, there was no foul play involved and that it wasn’t due to an accident. We will continue to follow this story for any other updates.

ORIGINAL STORY: The woman who died from her injuries sustained when her van caught fire last Thursday has been identified.

The Columbia Police Department has confirmed that 40 year-old Linda Tackett of Columbia died Friday.

The Columbia Fire Department was dispatched to a person on fire at the Bear Creek Trail access on Creasy Springs Road Thursday afternoon. Fire crews arrived on the scene approximately five minutes later and observed a vehicle entirely on flames and a subject with significant burns outside the vehicle on the ground.

This subject was transferred to University Hospital by ambulance with assistance from fire department personnel. The vehicle fire was extinguished with major damage to the vehicle. There were no additional injuries reported.

Columbia Fire Department Investigators are working with the Columbia Police Department to determine the cause of the fire.

ABC 17 News will continue to follow this story for updates.