CUMRU TOWNSHIP, Pa.- An autopsy is shedding new light on a mystery near Neversink Mountain as authorities are learning more about a body found in a burning car early Sunday.
The autopsy wrapped up Tuesday afternoon. Initial findings show the death of a person found burned in a car on South 9th Street in Cumru Township on Neversink Mountain early Sunday was likely accidental.
“The preliminary findings in that autopsy indicate that the decedent died from thermal exposure as well as smoke inhalation and possibly some other hazardous chemicals that could’ve been a result of the burning of the vehicle,” said Cumru Township Police Chief Madison Winchester.
Investigators say initial calls were from people thinking the mountain was on fire.
“The City of Reading does have some cameras that will reach that area from a distance, and they could observe the flames,” Winchester said. “It wasn’t really until initial emergency responders arrived and determined it was a vehicle fire and it wasn’t a mountain fire.”
He says Reading Police told investigators they had reports of a vehicle that matched the description of the one found burning driving recklessly around the south side of the city a few hours prior. Authorities say it was also involved in a single vehicle hit and run.
“We believe initially that’s what led this vehicle down that road on S. 9th Street, ultimately disabling the vehicle on S. 9th Street, causing the vehicle to also catch on fire,” said Winchester. “Unfortunately, the individual was not able to remove themselves from the vehicle.”
The identity of the person who was killed has not yet been released.