UPDATED: Police seeking witnesses

UPDATED - 3pm: Police are continuing their investigation into the death of 14-year-old Rangimaria White in Opotiki over the weekend and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Rangimaria died after being struck by a vehicle on Goring Street shortly before 3.45am on Sunday, 27 July.

The vehicle failed to stop and the main focus of the investigation is to identify witnesses who may have information about the vehicle and its driver.

Police are also talking to a number of people to establish the movements of Rangimaria on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, and the circumstances that led to her being on Goring Street.

Enquiries indicate she had been at a family address a short time before the incident occurred.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen says they still have a number of enquiries to make and a number of people to speak to.

'Until those enquiries are complete and we have a fuller picture we will not be making any detailed comment,” says Greg.

'We encourage everyone's focus to remain on helping us to identify the vehicle and its driver. Any information, no matter how small or irrelevant it may seem, may be valuable to the investigation.

'If anyone suspects someone or being involved, or knows of a vehicle they believe may have been involved, we want that information so that we can include or eliminate them from our enquiries.”

No debris from a vehicle was found at the scene and police say the vehicle involved may not necessarily have any significant or noticeable damage.

'It is therefore important that anyone who has a suspicion about a vehicle, even if it has no obvious damage, reports it to police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Whakatane Police on 07-308-5255.

Information can be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.

EARLIER:

Police have officially named the 14-year old girl who died in Opotiki in an apparent hit and run incident over the weekend.

Police says Rangimaria Christine White of Te Teko is believed to have been struck by a vehicle on Goring Street in Opotiki on Sunday morning, sometime before 3.45am.

St John ambulance paramedics treated the girl at the scene but she died en route to hospital.

Police have launched an investigation into the girl's death and are appealing to witnesses to help piece together her last movements.

They are yet to locate the vehicle and are continuing to appeal to anyone with information to contact Whakatane Police on 07-308-5255.

Information can be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.

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