Highway in northeastern Arizona briefly closed after troopers find body

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. 

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