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.
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.
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.
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.
The Berks County Coroner's Office was assisted by the Central Berks Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, and the Oley Fire Company.
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