Body Found in Truck Apparently Result of Hanging

An autopsy has indicated that a man who was found dead Saturday morning in a pickup truck parked along the shoulder of Route 11 inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park died of asphyxiation by hanging, park officials said this afternoon.

A park ranger found the body of Steven L. Elliott, 43, in Elliott’s 2002 white Ford truck near the 35-mile marker, a park spokeswoman said.

While Elliott’s death may appear to be a suicide, the National Park Service is continuing its investigation of the case.

Park officials declined to provide any further information on the matter.

Anyone who noticed anything suspicious near the scene between 10:22 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, and 9:34 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, is asked to call park dispatch at (808) 985-6170. Tipsters can remain anonymous.