Police Seek Driver After Van Found Wrecked in Malmesbury Ditch
Wiltshire Police have launched an investigation to locate the driver of a Vauxhall Combo van after it was discovered abandoned in a ditch in Malmesbury. The incident was reported at 8.30am on Saturday, 21 March, in Park Lane.
Scene Evidence Points to Prior Collision and Alcohol Involvement
Upon arrival, officers found clear evidence that the vehicle had left the roadway and spun into the grass verge. The scene was marked by a significant detail: numerous empty alcohol bottles were strewn in the adjacent hedgerow, suggesting possible involvement of alcohol prior to the crash.
Further inspection of the van revealed it was missing its driver’s side door, along with both the front and rear bumpers. This significant damage profile strongly indicates the van was likely involved in a separate collision at another location before being driven or towed to Park Lane. The missing door was later located in the nearby village of Brinkworth, though the exact site of the initial impact remains unknown.
Police Dog Tracking and Ongoing Enquiries
A police dog unit was deployed to the scene. A general purpose police dog successfully picked up a scent and tracked it through a nearby field, but the trail was lost a short distance away. This is a common challenge in rural investigations where terrain and weather can quickly degrade scent particles.
As of Monday, 23 March, Wiltshire Police confirmed that officers “have been conducting enquiries” but the driver had not yet been identified or located. The force is treating the incident as a matter of serious concern, given the evidence of a prior crash and the abandoned state of the vehicle.
Appeal for Witnesses and Information
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the van in the Malmesbury or Brinkworth areas on the morning of 21 March, or who has any information about its movements or the driver, to come forward. The investigation log number is 63 of 21 March.
Information can be reported directly to Wiltshire Police by calling 101.
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Image Credit: www.wiltshire999s.co.uk
