Man dies after being beaten then run over by vehicle in Dunedin

A witness who was at the scene of a death in Dunedin last night said the victim was attacked and then run down by a group in a vehicle.

Police confirmed last night a man died in Eglinton Rd, near Unity Park, in Mornington, about 7.30pm.

In an update this morning police said they were called to the scene after reports a man had been assaulted and run over by a vehicle.

This morning two large green tents are set up at the scene, where deep tyre marks can be seen in the grass on the park.

Police were still at the scene at 11.30am and the road was still closed.

They would not say how many people they were seeking in relation to the incident, if any arrests had been made or if the vehicle had been found.

This comes after a Health New Zealand employee last night said a man who was with the victim said his friend had been beaten up and when he tried to escape, the group ran him down.

Police at the scene in Eglinton Rd on Friday morning. Photo / Peter McIntosh

The Health NZ worker gave CPR to the victim.

She said she was heading home with a friend when she heard cries for help.

She ran over and found the dying man on the grass next to the road.

The man was in a bad state and had injuries across his body.

The woman tried to perform CPR but the man's injuries were too severe for it to be effective.

After about five minutes of CPR the man died, she said.

When emergency services arrived medics tried to resuscitate the man but could not.

She said what she was told by the man who had been with the victim lined up with the state of the body and the tyre tracks at the scene.

It looked like he had tried running across the park.

Emergency services investigate the scene after a death in Eglinton Rd, Dunedin last night. Photo / Allison Images

"You could tell it was no normal accident."

She took her friend home before returning to the scene, where she was told police would be in contact with her.

Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and at least two ambulances attended the incident.

This morning police said they were treating the death as "unexplained".

Cordons were still in place this morning while police continued the scene examination.

Residents in the neighbourhood spoken to by the Otago Daily Times last night said they would never expect something like that to happen in the area.

Cordons were still in place this morning while police continued the scene examination. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery

It was generally a safe neighbourhood where one could feel comfortable leaving doors unlocked, one said.

Police said they would be keen to hear from anyone who saw what happened who had not yet been spoken to.

"We understand a group of people were present at the scene prior to this man's death and welcome any information you may have that will help us understand what happened."

Anyone with information should contact police 105, event number P051302605; Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111 or online via www.crimestoppers-nz.org