KOTA KINABALU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A woman died after the car she was in caught fire after it crashed into an unoccupied house that was also razed in Sabah's east coast Sandakan district.

The charred remains of the woman, who has yet to be positively identified, were found trapped inside the car by firemen responding to a distress call at 4.20am on Friday (Feb 2). She is believed to be in her 30s.

A state Fire and Rescue Services Department spokesman here said another occupant in the car identified as Karthigaaiyan Rajalingam, 30, managed to escape from the vehicle following the accident that occurred at Labuk Road close to Wisma Yung Chong in Sandakan.

"The car is believed to have skidded off the road and swerved into the unoccupied wooden house before it went up in flames, burning down the house as well," the spokesman said.

The fire was put out at 5.05am while police are investigating the accident.