A man found critically injured on a roadside in Wellington’s Miramar in the early hours of Monday morning has died in hospital.
Police are still investigating whether the now-fatal incident was linked to an earlier home invasion nearby.
An unexplained death investigation has now been launched by police.
The man was found on a footpath a short distance from his vehicle at the intersection of Camperdown Rd and Totara Rd around 2.20am yesterday.
It was the second serious incident in the area on Monday morning after a home invasion on a neighbouring street just 20 minutes earlier.
Residents at a Darlington Rd address called police when an intruder, unknown to them, was found inside their home at 2am.
One occupant received minor injuries following an altercation with the offender.
Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard said the injured and unconscious man was then discovered on the roadside as police were carrying out area inquiries.
“Parallel investigations are underway into both incidents and police are still working to determine if there is any link between the two,” he said.
“At this stage, it has not been established if there is a connection between the intruder and the deceased, but that is a focus of the investigation.”
Pritchard asked residents in Darlington Rd, Totara Rd and Camperdown Rd to check their properties for any missing clothing from clotheslines, missing footwear, or other items.
“We also want to hear from anyone who locates any discarded items of property on their sections.”
Sightings of suspicious activity, people “prowling in the area” in the last couple of weeks or unreported thefts from properties or vehicles in the area, were also sought, he added.
Police are working to determine whether a home break in that left a resident injured and the discovery of a critically injured man on a nearby street in Wellington’s Miramar in the early hours of this morning are linked. (Source: 1News)
“We are particularly interested in any sightings of a man wearing a white cap, shorts and gumboots.”
Pritchard said police were aware the events would cause concern in the community and that staff were working hard to answer questions around the incidents.
“Police are carrying out reassurance patrols in the Miramar area and this will continue over the coming days.”
