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| Crash body undiscovered for hours | Crash body undiscovered for hours |
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| A pedestrian's body lay undiscovered for five-and-a-half hours after a runaway van crashed into him and a house in south Wales, it has emerged. | A pedestrian's body lay undiscovered for five-and-a-half hours after a runaway van crashed into him and a house in south Wales, it has emerged. |
| Wilfred Rogers, 85, was only found after the house in Abertillery was made safe and the homeowner allowed back in. | Wilfred Rogers, 85, was only found after the house in Abertillery was made safe and the homeowner allowed back in. |
| Colin Morris, 30, who was not in his home at the time of the crash, found Mr Rogers' body in the kitchen later after picking up some belongings. | Colin Morris, 30, who was not in his home at the time of the crash, found Mr Rogers' body in the kitchen later after picking up some belongings. |
| But Gwent Police said it was initially thought no-one had been hurt. | But Gwent Police said it was initially thought no-one had been hurt. |
| It is believed Mr Rogers was walking past or resting on railings outside the house when the incident happened in Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, at 1335 GMT on Thursday. | It is believed Mr Rogers was walking past or resting on railings outside the house when the incident happened in Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, at 1335 GMT on Thursday. |
| The driverless delivery van rolled into the house in Rhiw Park Mews, throwing Mr Rogers into the kitchen. | |
| Gwent Police said a post mortem examination showed Mr Rogers died of blunt head injuries "almost instantaneously". | |
| Heolgerrig opposite has a very steep incline | Heolgerrig opposite has a very steep incline |
| Neighbours said it was believed a transit-style van which was parked on the steep Heolgerrig, opposite Rhiw Park Mews, suddenly rolled backwards down the hill towards Mr Rogers. | Neighbours said it was believed a transit-style van which was parked on the steep Heolgerrig, opposite Rhiw Park Mews, suddenly rolled backwards down the hill towards Mr Rogers. |
| Robert Pugsley said Mr Rogers would always sit on the railings outside the house taking a rest as he walked up the steep hill home. | Robert Pugsley said Mr Rogers would always sit on the railings outside the house taking a rest as he walked up the steep hill home. |
| "Nobody could believe it. Wilf was a really nice man," said Mr Pugsley, who used to live next door to the dead man. | "Nobody could believe it. Wilf was a really nice man," said Mr Pugsley, who used to live next door to the dead man. |
| "My daughter lives by here with her baby and I've always told her that road could be dangerous." | "My daughter lives by here with her baby and I've always told her that road could be dangerous." |
| Mr Rogers' body was not found until 1900 GMT on Thursday when homeowner Mr Morris was allowed into the unstable building to collect some belongings. | Mr Rogers' body was not found until 1900 GMT on Thursday when homeowner Mr Morris was allowed into the unstable building to collect some belongings. |
| Mr Morris told the South Wales Argus: "What if someone had found him sooner, could he have still been alive? | Mr Morris told the South Wales Argus: "What if someone had found him sooner, could he have still been alive? |
| Tributes have been left at the scene | Tributes have been left at the scene |
| He added: "People were going in and out of the house, I just don't know how they didn't see him." | He added: "People were going in and out of the house, I just don't know how they didn't see him." |
| Gwent Police said the body was only discovered when the house was secured and cleared. | Gwent Police said the body was only discovered when the house was secured and cleared. |
| A force spokeswoman said: "A local authority structural engineer attended the scene and advised that the house was unstable. | A force spokeswoman said: "A local authority structural engineer attended the scene and advised that the house was unstable. |
| "Only when the house was made and secure and stable was anybody able to enter." | "Only when the house was made and secure and stable was anybody able to enter." |
| She explained there was no external evidence to suggest anyone was in the property at the time of the collision, as everyone had been accounted for - including the van driver, the homeowner, and residents in adjoining properties. | She explained there was no external evidence to suggest anyone was in the property at the time of the collision, as everyone had been accounted for - including the van driver, the homeowner, and residents in adjoining properties. |
| The spokeswoman said officers were called to the scene at about 1330 GMT on Thursday following reports that a van had hit and severely damaged a house. | The spokeswoman said officers were called to the scene at about 1330 GMT on Thursday following reports that a van had hit and severely damaged a house. |
| Police said they were investigating the cause of the incident and the van owner was assisting police with their enquiries although no arrests had been made. | |
| Anyone with information is asked to contact police on: 01633 838111, Crimestoppers: 0800 555111. |