Police confirm body is of missing soldier

Dental records have been used to determine that the body found in the Kawarau River last week was that of second of three soldiers killed in an army truck crash last month, Private David James Partington of Linton.

Pte Partington, 17, was travelling in the Unimog with fellow privates Ashley Goodwin, 19, of Motueka, and Shane Ohlen, 21, of Wellington when it crashed off State Highway 6 into the Kawarau River on February 23.

Pte Partington's body was found on Friday 6km downstream from the crash, but dental records had to be used to confirm it was him, Sergeant Steve Ereckson of Cromwell police said in a statement.

Pte Goodwin was found earlier after he was thrown from the truck before it went into the river.

Mr Ereckson said police believed the best way to prove if Pte Ohlen was trapped in the truck, which is still in the river, was to use a "Didson" acoustic beam sonar device.

"We are unsure when this device will be available."

He said he could not give guarantees on recovering the truck or finding the body of the missing soldier.

Police were investigating other options, but indicated earlier they were planning to scale down the search for the third body.

- NZPA