Female burn victim found in Berkeley dies at hospital
The investigation is ongoing. Limited details were available.
An unidentified woman found unresponsive today in Berkeley with extensive burns on her body was pronounced dead at the hospital Friday night, according to police and early reports.
The call began when the Berkeley Fire Department was dispatched to a medical emergency at University Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way at 5 p.m., according to radio traffic reviewed by The Scanner.
After finding the woman on the sidewalk, the fire department rushed her to Highland Hospital, the regional trauma center, "Code 3" with lights and sirens about 10 minutes later.
The woman, who was identified only as a "Jane Doe" in her mid-40s, was "fully clothed with non-burned clothing" — but quickly determined to have widespread burns across her torso and face, as well as soot in her nostrils and mouth, according to preliminary reports.
"We're uncertain of the source of the burns," authorities reported over the radio.
Berkeley police said their investigation was still underway but confirmed that the woman had been taken to Highland Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
As of publication time, police had not said whether the woman's death had been deemed suspicious.
