The Serious Crash Unit has now completed its investigation at the scene just north of Wellsford, where earlier today, the body of a lone male occupant was discovered inside a motor vehicle.
The vehicle, a Subaru Legacy, was reported missing on Friday. It was found about 0830 hours this morning, lying upside down at the bottom of a three metre bank, on SH1, in a location about two x kms north of the township.
Sergeant Paul Carstensen Officer in Charge of Wellsford Police says the deceased male has now been formally identified and relatives informed.
The man was:
Walter Roy Pearce
Male - 41 years of age
Resident of Kaiwaka
Lived with his partner
Occupation - Labourer - locally employed.
Sergeant Carstensen says preliminary enquiries indicate the vehicle was being driven northbound on SH1, when it went off the road. Seat belt was not worn.
There are no suspicious circumstances, and the incident will now be referred to the Coroner, Sergeant Carstensen said.