Early Sunday morning, a grim discovery was made when a man was found dead in his vehicle on Loop 202 Red Mountain freeway near Alma School Road, according to the Department of Public Safety. The eastbound lanes of the freeway were shut for investigation following the incident, causing a significant halt in morning traffic. The unidentified man's cause of death has yet to be determined, leaving more questions than answers for both law enforcement and the public alike.
Just shy of 2:00 a.m., a DPS trooper initiated a routine check on a parked vehicle, which swiftly turned into an unanticipated crime scene investigation. A report obtained by azfamily.com disclosed that the man, who has not been named, was found dead behind the car's wheel. The trooper's attempt to assist the man took a turn for an investigation of the death's cause that remains, as of now, undisclosed.
The incident necessitated a temporary closure of a section of Loop 202, causing significant traffic disruptions. The freeway was later reopened, around 9:00 a.m., once the on-site investigation had concluded for the time being. To aid commuters, real-time traffic updates were made available, addressing the delays and backups generated by the closed stretch of road.
CLOSED: L-202 EB is closed at Alma School for a law enforcement situation. All traffic is exiting at Alma School. There is no estimated reopening time. pic.twitter.com/VQfX3mppl9
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) January 28, 2024
Anyone with information that could contribute to understanding the full picture has been encouraged to come forward.
