Authorities have identified the person found dead inside a burning vehicle on Neversink Mountain near the Reading–Cumru Township line over the weekend, a blaze investigators say appears to have started accidentally.
Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel said Wednesday that the victim was Elvin F. De La Cruz Martinez, 44, of Reading.
His body was discovered after firefighters put out a vehicle fire in the 1000 block of South Ninth Street around 3:20 a.m. Sunday. The location, while within Cumru Township, is accessible by vehicle only from Reading, according to Cumru police.
An autopsy was performed Tuesday by forensic pathologist Dr. Neil Hoffman.
Stitzel said a ruling on the cause and manner of death is pending final laboratory results and completion of the police investigation.
Cumru Police Chief Madison Winchester said preliminary findings indicate De La Cruz Martinez died of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation, with the possibility of exposure to hazardous chemicals still being evaluated.
Madison Winchester, Cumru Township Police
Winchester said investigators believe De La Cruz Martinez was intoxicated and driving recklessly before the vehicle became disabled on the rough mountain terrain and caught fire.
“What we believe occurred,” Winchester said, “is as he traveled down South Ninth Street, his vehicle ran aground and was disabled, which ignited the vehicle because of damage to the undercarriage. He was unable to remove himself from the vehicle and ultimately died.”
Investigators based their preliminary conclusions on witness accounts, the condition of the vehicle after the fire and reports to Reading police of a reckless driver shortly before the blaze was discovered.
De La Cruz Martinez lived in the 800 block of Chestnut Street, officials said, less than a mile from where the fire occurred.
Winchester said police interviewed people who encountered De La Cruz Martinez shortly before the fire, and they described him as extremely intoxicated. A preliminary toxicology test indicated the presence of alcohol, he said, adding that police are awaiting the final toxicology report.
Cumru police and the coroner’s office were assisted by Reading police, the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal unit and the Berks County district attorney’s forensic services unit.