A 51-year-old man was in critical condition after he was found early Wednesday morning in a burning vehicle on the on-ramp to the H-3 freeway west from Mokapu Boulevard in Kailua.

Paramedics from Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene at 12:41 a.m. and rendered aid to the man, who was unresponsive. Police are still investigating the case. The man was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Firefighters find charred body in Hilo drainage ditch

Hawaii County firefighters, responding to a brush fire, discovered the body of a 50-year-old man engulfed in flames in a drainage ditch in Hilo.

Fire Battalion Chief Darwin Okinaka said the fire department is leaving it up to police to determine whether it is a homicide or suicide.

He said firefighters detected the scent of hydrocarbons — petroleum-­based fuel such as gasoline.

Firefighters found a small bag near the body, Okinaka said.

Hawaii County Fire Department dispatched 15 firefighters, and 13 others responded, including a medic unit.

Police have taken over the investigation.