The Berks County Coroner’s Office has released the cause and manner of death for a man who was found deceased inside a vehicle following a fire in Cumru Township earlier this year.
According to Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel, 44-year-old Elvin Francisco De La Cruz Martinez, of the 800 block of Chestnut Street in Reading, died as a result of thermal burns and smoke inhalation. The manner of death was ruled accidental.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:23 a.m. on March 29, when the Reading Fire Department was dispatched to the area of South 9th Street for a reported fire. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a fully involved vehicle fire in Cumru Township near the Reading city line.
After extinguishing the blaze, firefighters found a deceased individual inside the vehicle. Investigators were notified and an investigation was launched.
An autopsy was performed on March 31 by forensic pathologist Dr. Neil Hoffman at Reading Hospital.
The coroner’s office said the investigation has now been completed, leading to the determination that De La Cruz Martinez’s death was accidental.
The Berks County Coroner’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Reading Fire Department, Cumru Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police Reading Station, Cumru Township Fire Department, and the Berks County Forensic Unit.