Dutch visitor's death still a mystery

Photo / file

Police are still in the dark as to what caused a Dutch visitor to lie down on a dimly-lit Wanaka road before he was run over by a taxi and killed last weekend.

Investigations into the death of 24-year-old Dutch national, Coen van Rosmalen, struck by a taxi in Beacon Point Rd in Wanaka about 3.30am last Sunday are nearly complete, police say.

However, officers are still keen to hear from anybody who may have seen a male hitchhiker walking on the west side of Beacon Point Rd - heading north - near to the intersection with Lakeside Drive between 2am and 3.40am on September 14.

"There was also a group of three or four people who were walking in front of this hitchhiker at the time," said Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Blackie, who has been leading the investigation.

"We would like to identify the hitchhiker because it's important to establish whether or not this person was Coen.

"The investigation team is keeping an open mind as to the factors that led to this tragedy and, in particular, what 'caused' Coen to lie on the road in a dimly lit area of Wanaka."

ESR and the police forensic team have completed their examination of the taxi.

All CCTV footage has been reviewed and all known witnesses have been located and interviewed by police.

Victim Support staff have been working to support those affected by the incident.

Mr Rosmalen's body has been released to his family. Throughout the investigation police have been liaising with the Netherlands Embassy and Mr Rosmalen's next of kin.

Police will now refer the matter to the coroner who will later receive a full report into the investigation.