Progress Energy Lobbyist Ashley Turton Dies in Not-Entirely-Explained Car Fire

Ashley Turton, a high-profile lobbyist for Progress Energy, was found dead in her car Monday, in a garage behind her Washington, D.C., home, following a car crash and resultant fire.

According to Politico, authorities have not determined the exact cause of the crash or why the car caught fire. Neighbors told police Ashley Turton was heading to the airport for an early flight.

The leading theory is accidental, [that] the car crashed through the garage doors and was found on fire in the garage area, a fire department spokesman said. He added that the incident is under joint investigation by the fire and police departments. There were some unusual circumstances just the way the car was, low-speed, significant fire, things like that ... For the most part, the fire was confined to the area of origin.

Politico reported that Mike Hughes, spokesman for North Carolina utility giant Progress Energy, said the company is devastated by the news.

Coincidentally, Duke Energy announced Monday it agreed to buy Progress Energy Inc. for $13.7 billion in stock, creating the largest U.S. power company if it wins approval from regulators in North and South Carolina. Hughes said Turton would have played a key role on Capitol Hill discussing the merger,

"She certainly would have had a role in notifying legislative staff," Hughes said. "She was a regular liaison with staff members."

When the merger is complete, the utility will provide service to approximately 7.1 million electricity customers in six states, including -- besides Florida -- North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Right now, Progress Energy serves 1.6 million customers in Florida and is the second largest energy provider in the state behind Florida Power and Light Co.

Ashley Turton's husband, Dan Turton, is the White Houses deputy director of legislative affairs for the House of Representatives. The couple have three young children, 4-year-old twins and a 2-year-old.