Search for witnesses after woman's body found in house during train crash probe

Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman's body was found in a house during enquiries into a crash between a car and train in Bay of Plenty last weekend.

A homicide investigation was launched after a woman was located deceased at a Kawerau address on Sunday morning.

Police were investigating a crash between a car and train at a private level crossing at an address on Te Puke Highway just after 9am.

The sole occupant of the vehicle hit by the train was airlifted to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

Detective Senior Sergeant Lou Curragh said the team were working hard to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and wanted to speak to anybody who saw anything untoward or unusual.

"We would like to hear from anyone who was in or around Valley Road, Kawerau, or anybody who saw any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in the area between 8pm on Saturday, 24 October and 7am on 25 October.

"This is a fairly quiet area and anybody with information on any movements of people or vehicles is of value to us.

"Even if you thought nothing of it at the time, the information could be crucial to our investigation. Each piece of information helps our investigators build a picture of events."

Police were also interested in any sightings of a silver Mitsubishi Lancer, with the registration EQB394 around Kawerau, Matata and Te Puke between 6:30am and 9:15am on Sunday, 25 October.

Anybody with information, or any CCTV or dashcam footage, was asked to contact police via the 105 service, either over the phone or online at 105.police.govt.nz, using file number 261025/1492.