A woman's dead body was found in this sport-utility vehicle off Routes 1 and 9 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. (Credit: CBS 2)

ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — An overwhelming smell led police to a body in Elizabeth, New Jersey Monday evening.

As CBS 2’s Jessica Schneider reported, the woman’s body was found in a white sport-utility vehicle in the parking lot of a Wawa convenience store, behind an Auto Zone, off Routes 1 and 9.

Elizabeth fire and police crews were called to the scene, as well as crews from the Union County Hazmat team.

CBS 2 has learned police were called to the scene after an employee of a nearby Wawa convenience store noticed the woman’s body inside the vehicle.

When police first arrived, an emergency sensor went off as they approached that white car. The sensor typically indicates hazardous materials, and Hazmat teams were working to determine the cause of the chemical odor that was discovered at the scene.

Police were also taking every precaution, including setting up a decontamination tent.

The parking lot where the vehicle with the body was found belongs to the Wawa store. Management at the store released a statement saying their employees alerted police to the situation.

The store also said the incident does not involve any of its associates or customers to their knowledge.

The manager of the Wawa told CBS 2 the store has surveillance of the entire parking lot area, and was working on getting the video to police.

Investigators Monday night were working to determine the woman’s identity, according to an Elizabeth police news release.

The Union County Prosecutor’s office said Monday night that it was not involved in the investigation, which may lead to a possibility that the woman’s death was not a homicide, Schneider reported.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call Elizabeth police at (908) 558-2112.

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