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Officials believe man found dead near car in Catawba Co. was killed in crash

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A body was found down a ravine off a rural Catawba County road Tuesday morning.

Deputies said they believe the man was killed in an overnight accident and was there for hours.

The body was found along Scronce Road near Jacobs Fork.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol and deputies spent more than four hours on the scene.

Investigators identified the victim as 30-year-old Brandon Eugene Scronce.

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They said his vehicle went off Scronce Road and hit at least two trees before overturning in some woods. He was thrown from the car.

The vehicle was found after someone noticed some fencing had been knocked down and alerted the man who owns the property.

“Somebody called my son. He’s got cows in the pasture,” resident Gary Richards said. “They said the fence was torn down. They kept looking and they finally found a car down in there.”

Officials don't believe Scronce was wearing a seat belt and said speed was a factor.

Cherie Larson has lived in the area for years and said drivers go way too fast.

“They use it for tryouts for Daytona,” Larson said. “It’s nothing for them to come past this area here at 60 to 70 mph. It’s common.”

At this point, officials don’t believe anyone witnessed the accident. They think the car may have been there for much of the night.

No other details have been released.

Check back for updates on this developing story.