A MURDER investigation has been launched after a woman was discovered dead in a crashed van.
The grim discovery was made following reports of an incident involving the vehicle in a rural location.
Detectives from Devon and Cornwall's major crime team have been drafted in to investigate.
The woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, is believed to have died some time before the collision.
The male driver of the Fiesta van has been arrested on suspicion of murder and was last night being questioned by officers at Heavitree Road police station, in Exeter.
The crash happened at around 10am yesterday.
Officers were alerted to the incident by members of the public.
The Fiesta van collided with a hedge on the A386 close to Hatherleigh, near Okehampton.
The woman is believed to be from the Hatherleigh area.
Former councillor for Hatherleigh Dennis Bater said she would be well known in the community.
"I heard that local firemen who were called out to the crash found the woman was dead and that she had died a long time before the accident," Mr Bater said.
"They had to leave the woman for body recovery – it must have been pretty obvious to the firefighters that she hadn't just died.
"The police helicopter has been circling around for a while.
"If the woman is from Hatherleigh, I probably know her as I know most people in the area – it's that kind of place.
"It won't be long before people start talking names."
He added: "At one time, this would have been a tremendous tragedy but these days nothing surprises me anymore."
Police closed the road between the junction with Jacobstowe and the road which leads towards Crediton while investigations were carried out, not far from South Langabeare Farm.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "A 54-year-old man, local to the Hatherleigh area, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody."
Anyone who has any information regarding the incident is asked to contact the police on 08452 777444.
source: thisisnorthdevon.co.uk
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