A red Dodge Challenger SRT Demon has been destroyed after catching fire in the U.S.

Numerous photos and videos of the Demon burning itself to a crisp have emerged across social media (view some here), although an official explanation for the inferno has yet to be given. However, according to Tire Meets Road, the owner may have been driving recklessly prior to the fire. Citing the alleged nephew of the Demon owner, the publication claims that the muscle car was traveling at roughly 170 mph (273 km/h) on a stretch of public road.

It’s claimed that the transmission gave way at high speed and the gearbox fluid unexpectedly ignited. A fire soon erupted and spread rapidly once the driver was able to bring the car to a halt.

In comments on an Instagram post detailing the incident, another claim was made that the car had been fitted with a selection of modifications and could have been running on racing fuel, unlocking the full 840 hp from the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine.

Videos also reveal that the owner was driving the car with the available skinny front tires on the front, despite them being designed with drag racing primarily in mind.

This is the first case of a Dodge Demon catching on fire that we have come across, apart from the three that were destroyed last year in a truck fire. We have seen a number of Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats going up in flames over the last few years, but not in numbers that should cause any concern among owners.