A 38-year old man, driving his car, was charred to death, while his wife and two children escaped unhurt, when the vehicle caught fire near Madukkarai on Palakkad Bypass on the outskirts the wee hours of today.

Dileep Kumar was running a jewellery in Bengaluru and was going to Kochi, with wife and two children, police said.

Suddenly a fire broke out near the engine and spread to the body, as the car stopped near a toll gate.

Though the wife, Asha and two children managed to jump out to safety, Dileep, who has fastened seat belt could not detach in time and charred to death in sitting position, they said.

Further investigations are on.