An incident unfolded alongside I-35 when a pedestrian was found dead yesterday morning, prompting an investigation by local authorities. The Oklahoma City Police Department and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident near Southeast 82nd Street in southeast Oklahoma City. A passerby discovered the individual, who had been fatally struck, with the suspect driver having fled the scene.
According to KFOR, local resident Justin Pierce discovered the body. "I didn’t think I would wake up today and see this," Pierce said. He initially noticed a Mickey Mouse backpack, then realized what he had found, stating, "I’m like, oh, snap. I just found, like, a cool, backpack that I was going to rock."
Investigators closed multiple southbound lanes of the freeway in response to the discovery, later narrowing the closure to the off-ramp at Southeast 66th Street, as reported by News9. While main lane traffic resumed, the off-ramp remained closed as the on-site investigation continued. The victim's identity has not yet been released.
The specific circumstances of the individual's death have not yet been determined. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation. As per OKC FOX, preliminary police efforts have not concluded whether the fatality resulted exclusively from the hit-and-run or if other factors were involved. The investigation is continuing as authorities collect witness accounts and forensic evidence.
