Police are not ruling out a vehicle being involved in the death of a teenager in Waikato.
The 17-year-old woman's body was found on the roadside on State Highway 3, just north of Otorohanga township, at about 6.30am today.
Otorohanga Mayor Max Baxter said the death would have a definite impact on the small town.
He said there were a lot of stories about what had happened - but they were all speculation.
"The population of Otorohanga Township is about 2700 people...it'll definitely have a major effect on the community, everybody does know eachother.
"It's a wonderfully supportive town so I know that everybody will get together and make sure that everybody is okay through this tragic time."
Lauren Zanders, who lives at the edge of the cordon that is still in place, said she heard a car skidding in the early hours of the morning.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Patterson said while it was possible a vehicle may have been involved, police were keeping an open mind as to how the young woman came to be at the roadside.
Police experts have examined the scene to find out more about how the teenager died.
Mr Patterson said police expected to find out more about the circumstances of the young woman's death as their investigation progressed.
"This is a tragedy and our thoughts are with her family at this time."
