Police are investigating whether an elderly man who died on Sunday evening (12 September) had been struck by a vehicle.
Brian Davis, aged 79, wandered off from Mercy Jenkins Rest Home on Maata Road, Eltham, with another elderly male resident on Sunday evening. Both men were believed to have been suffering from dementia.
The ambulance service was contacted by a member of the public who had found the men on State Highway 3, north of Eltham.
Mr Davis was lying on the ground and he died on arrival at Taranaki Base Hospital of a suspected heart attack. A post mortem examination, however, has revealed that Mr Davis had suffered multiple fractures, dying as a result of these injuries. The other man has been returned to the rest home.
Detective Senior Sergeant Keith Borrell said: "It was dark and it was raining, and it appears at this stage that Mr Davis may have been struck by a vehicle. We want to speak to anyone who saw these men between 6pm and 7.45pm on Sunday in the Eltham area or saw what happened to cause these injuries."
Mr Davis was wearing a black and grey checked, long-sleeved shirt, blue track pants and tan Ugg boots. The other man is described as tall, mildly overweight, and was wearing dark track pants and a red and blue woollen shirt.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Stratford Police on 06 765 8860 or New Plymouth Police on 06 759 5500.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.