The victim was identified as a 69-year-old Oley Township resident following an autopsy, according to Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel. The man was found in the rear of a van after firefighters extinguished a vehicle fire in the 4000 block of Friedensburg Road in Oley Township on Tuesday, May 26. <\/p>\n
The initial call reporting the vehicle fire was received by the Berks County 911 Center at approximately 9:43 a.m., according to the release. After the flames were extinguished, responders discovered the body inside the burned vehicle. <\/p>\n
The Berks County Coroner’s Office was paged at 10:21 a.m. and personnel arrived at the scene at approximately 10:58 a.m., the coroner said. <\/p>\n
The cause of death was determined to be thermal burns and smoke inhalation. The manner of death was ruled suicide following the investigation and autopsy findings, according to the coroner. <\/p>\n
The Berks County Coroner’s Office was assisted by the Central Berks Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, and the Oley Fire Company.<\/p>\n