Update – June 2, 2026: The Berks County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim discovered inside the burned van as a 69-year-old Oley Township resident. Following an autopsy, the cause of death was determined to be thermal burns and smoke inhalation, and the manner of death was ruled suicide, according to Coroner Matthew Stitzel.
Original post: A body was discovered Tuesday morning after firefighters extinguished a vehicle fire in Oley Township, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.
Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel said the incident occurred in the 4000 block of Friedensburg Road. The initial call reporting a vehicle fire was received by the Berks County 911 Center at approximately 9:43 a.m. on May 26.
After the fire was extinguished, authorities discovered a body in the rear of the burned van.
The Berks County Coroner’s Office was paged at 10:21 a.m., with personnel arriving at the scene at approximately 10:58 a.m.
Officials said the victim has not yet been positively identified. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday at Reading Hospital to determine the cause and manner of death.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
The Berks County Coroner’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Central Berks Regional Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, and the Oley Fire Company.
