Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
A body found at a house fire on Friday may be linked to a fatal car crash earlier this week in the Ruapehu district, police said.
One person was found dead after a house fire in Rangataua on Thursday night. The fire was reported about 6.40pm.
Investigators at the scene located the remains on Friday afternoon while conducting a scene examination at the Kata Street home, police said.
“While we are in the very early stages of this investigation, our initial enquiries suggest there may be a connection between the fire and a fatal crash that occurred in Tangiwai on Thursday evening,” Whanganui Area Commander Inspector Neil Forlong said.
One person died in a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 49 on Thursday night which was reported about 6.45pm.
While that person is also yet to be formally identified, the vehicle involved is believed to be connected to the address where the fire occurred, police said.
They said work is underway to identify the fire victim and establish how they died.
“Residents in the Rangataua area may notice an increased police presence in the community as we continue to make enquiries into the circumstances of these two incidents, to establish exactly what has occurred,” Forlong said.
Information that may help police can be reported via 105, quoting file number 260417/7386.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
