White Van Sought After Man Dies On Shropshire Road

Police have renewed an appeal for witnesses and urged the occupants of a white box van to come forward as they continue to investigate the death of a man on a road at Cound, near Shrewsbury.

Although formal identification has not yet taken place the dead man is believed to be 36-year-old Dale McNamee, who was from the Harmer Hill area of Shrewsbury. He was found with head injuries at around 4.20am on Saturday morning on the Bridgnorth bound carriageway of the A458 at Venus Bank, Cound. Paramedics confirmed him dead at the scene and a post mortem was taking place this afternoon (Monday).   

Mr McNamee is believed to have walked about a mile from the Chestnuts area of Cross Houses before he was in collision with a vehicle which did not stop at the scene. Shortly before 4.20am a woman who was driving the other way towards Shrewsbury reported seeing a man in the road who appeared to be trying to get up off the ground. As she continued into Cross Houses she flashed her headlights to warn an oncoming white box van carrying two people wearing fluorescent jackets.

The woman then stopped to alert the police and ambulance service and Mr McNamee was found minutes later.

Detective Inspector Sarah Wagstaff, from Shrewsbury Police Station, said today: "These are tragic circumstances and it is vital we identify anyone who was using that road between Shrewsbury and Much Wenlock from around 4am to 5am on Saturday morning.

"Our inquiry is currently focusing on the white box van that was seen travelling towards the scene shortly before the body was found. The driver and his front seat passenger, who were wearing fluorescent jackets, have not yet come forward to speak to us and it is vital that they do so now.

"The vehicle looked like a delivery van and had some writing on the side, so we would be keen to hear from anyone in the area who may have been expecting a delivery that morning, particularly if it did not turn up.

"This happened in the early hours on a very dark, unlit country road with no footpath. We would therefore like to hear from anyone else driving along that road who may have seen the victim walking there and had to steer to avoid him.

"We are very grateful to those members of the public who have already come forward with information and our officers are still working in the area carrying out door-to-door inquiries.

"It may be that the vehicle involved in this incident left the A458 as there are a number of quiet country roads and lanes running off it and we would be interested to know if anyone living nearby saw or was disturbed by a vehicle using those routes in the early hours.

"We are already reviewing some CCTV footage but we also need people or businesses between Shrewsbury and Much Wenlock who may have security cameras trained on to the A458 or side roads to contact us as soon as possible."

Witnesses or anyone with information should call DI Wagstaff at Shrewsbury Police Station on 0300 333 3000, quoting incident reference 99-S-261111, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Issued: Monday, 28 November 2011