Pontebba: Austrian woman and dog found dead in van

Authorities in Pontebba, Italy, are investigating the deaths of a 27-year-old Austrian woman and her dog, found inside a parked Volkswagen Caddy in the Pietratagliata area. The vehicle, which bore license plates from the Hermagor district and featured the logo of the company ‘Die Huf mitzi’, had been parked in the sun for several days.

Preliminary investigations by the Udine prosecutor's office and local Carabinieri suggest a drug overdose as the most likely cause of death for the woman. A substance suspected to be related to an overdose was found inside the van, which had been locked from the inside. Investigators have stated that there is currently no evidence of third-party involvement or violence.

The dog is believed to have died due to the high temperatures inside the closed vehicle. Forensic examinations and toxicological analyses are pending to confirm the exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the woman's presence in the area.