Editorial: Wall of silence after fatality

When you lose a close family member or friend, it's hard enough.

Add to that the mystery of why you are forced to be in such pain, and it's probably unbearable.

Spare a thought for the family of Israel Jack.

They had to bury the 20-year-old after he died on Te Ngae Rd in Rotorua on August 18. How and why he died is a mystery.

All the police know is his body was found on Te Ngae Rd after an emergency call reporting he had been struck by a vehicle about 4.25am. So far the investigation has established at least two vehicles had struck him. He was lying prone on the road on both occasions.

But police say there are missing pieces of the puzzle immediately before he was struck. It's possible he was in a vehicle at some stage.

They have appealed to the public for help through the media, even releasing security camera footage in a bid to refresh people's memories of Mr Jack at the Caltex service station shortly before he was found dead.

Sadly police have only received limited information so far from the public.

Come on Rotorua. Someone out there knows something and they're choosing not to speak up. For whatever reason, it's wrong. Police have methods of receiving information from the public anonymously. There is no excuse for staying silent.

Information can be passed on by calling 0800 555 111 anonymously or by ringing Rotorua police on (07) 348 0099.