A person was found dead late Thursday morning near the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway exit to southbound La Cienega Boulevard in the Mid‑City area of Los Angeles, according to the California Highway Patrol. The discovery, reported at about 10:35 a.m., prompted officers to shut down the southbound La Cienega off‑ramp while they started a death investigation at the scene.
City News Service, in coverage carried by MyNewsLA, reported that the CHP opened a death investigation and closed the ramp as officials worked the area. No details were immediately released about the person who died or the circumstances surrounding the death.
Ramp shutdown and traffic impact
Traffic logs reviewed by CommuteDash show a SIG Alert for the I‑10 eastbound La Cienega off‑ramp was issued around noon, noting the ramp was shut for roughly two hours and backing up the midday drive. Drivers were forced onto nearby surface streets while officers secured the off‑ramp and investigators worked close by.
Investigation and next steps
The CHP is responsible for handling death investigations that occur on state highways, while the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner‑Coroner takes over identification and the determination of cause and manner of death. Final rulings can take anywhere from several days to a few months when additional lab work is needed, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner‑Coroner.
