Highway in northeastern Arizona briefly closed after troopers find body
Nov 8, 2018, 8:38 AM | Updated: Nov 9, 2018, 7:30 am
(Flickr/vxla)
(Flickr/vxla)
PHOENIX — A highway in northeastern Arizona was closed early Thursday morning after troopers found a body.
Trooper Kameron Lee with the Arizona Department of Public Safety said the body was found on the eastbound Interstate 40 at mile 286 in Holbrook around 2 a.m. after troopers were called to the scene to investigate debris.
The man, 33-year-old Randall Nelson, was hit by a vehicle and killed early Thursday morning after he intentionally crouched or kneeled in the road. He was a resident of Holbrook.
Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said Nelson had sent several messages to his family beforehand.
Traffic was re-rerouted through Holbrook when the highway was first closed around 4 a.m., but it reopened around 8:30 a.m.
OPEN: Interstate 40 eastbound has reopened in Holbrook. #aztraffic https://t.co/RvZhPm9uaJ
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) November 8, 2018
The medical examiner is working to identify the body and determine a cause of death, Lee said.
The mile marker was located near an exit that had multiple gas stations, restaurants and a hotel.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
