Cause of death for body found near Highway 240 remains under investigation

An autopsy eliminated some ways that a person found near Highway 240 died, but it’s still not clear what killed him.

The person, believed to be a man, was spotted near the eastbound lanes of Highway 240 at the Interstate 182 exit, about 9 a.m., said a Washington State Patrol news release.

Thursday’s autopsy at the Benton County Coroner’s Office determined that the person didn’t have any injuries before dying several weeks ago, Benton County Coroner Bill Leach said.

But it’s still not clear what the person did die from. Tests are being conducted to determine if there were drugs in his system, but the condition of the body could stop officials from determining the cause of death.

While identification was found on the body, the coroner’s office is continuing to work on confirming the person’s identity. They are presently trying to compare dental records.

The body was discovered by a driver who stopped along the side of the road to tighten their load, said the WSP.