A grim discovery on Interstate 5 near Woodland has California Highway Patrol investigators looking into a possible hit-and-run. Late Tuesday morning, officers from the CHP’s Woodland office found a body in the center divider of northbound I-5 near West Street, just before 11:30 a.m. Investigators say the person appears to have been struck by a vehicle, but the driver did not stop and has not contacted authorities. The Yolo County coroner’s office is expected to identify the victim after notifying relatives.
According to The Sacramento Bee, CHP spokesperson Rodney Fitzhugh said Woodland-area officers located the body on northbound I-5 just north of West Street. Fitzhugh told the outlet that investigators “believe the person was struck by a vehicle” and that the involved driver left the scene.
What CHP Is Asking
The CHP Woodland Area office, which patrols this stretch of I-5 through Yolo County, is asking drivers to help fill in the blanks. Anyone who was traveling through the area around the time of the incident, especially those with dash-cam footage, is urged to contact investigators at 530-702-6250, as listed on the CHP Woodland Area page.
Investigation Details
The case remains an active investigation while the coroner works to confirm the person’s identity and determine the exact cause of death. As reported by The Sacramento Bee, the coroner will release the victim’s name once relatives have been notified.
Why This Matters Locally
The discovery comes as the region has seen a string of freeway pedestrian deaths and hit-and-run incidents in recent months, including fatal collisions on I-5 north of Woodland that prompted public pleas for witnesses. In one October case, a pedestrian was hit by a big rig and the driver took off, highlighting just how hard these investigations can be for law enforcement, as covered by KCRA.
CHP officials say the investigation into the latest incident is ongoing and that more information will be released when available. In the meantime, anyone who might have seen something on that stretch of I-5 is urged to call the CHP Woodland office at the number above.
