Israel Jack death: Police try to identify truck driver

Israel Jack.

Police investigating the death of Rotorua man Israel Jack are trying to identify the driver of a truck who they say may be a crucial witness.

The 20-year-old was found dead on Te Ngae Rd at 4.25am on August 18. He had been hit by at least two cars as he lay on the road.

Mr Jack had been seen alive at a Caltex service station about five minutes earlier, raising the unanswered question of how he covered 1.4km in that time.

Police scouring hours of security footage for clues have now identified a flat-bed commercial truck driven by a crucial witness.

Detective Senior Sergeant Zane Smith said the two-axle, single cab truck had been driving along Te Ngae Rd away from the airport towards the city.

"This truck would have travelled past the location where Mr Jack died within the very small timeframe that we are interested in.

"That driver could have vital witness information, even if they don't realise it, so it is equally vital that we find out who they are and speak to them."

Police are still calling for information from anyone who was on Te Ngae Rd, Owhata Rd or in and around the Te Ngae shopping centre between 4am and 5am on Sunday, August 18.