Authorities Thursday were investigating a hit- and-run crash that left a man dead on the southbound San Diego (5) Freeway in San Juan Capistrano.
California Highway Patrol officers began receiving 911 calls about 9:40 p.m. Wednesday about what appeared to be a dead animal on the freeway just south of Ortega Highway, said CHP Officer Tom McCulloch.
The man, whose name was not released, appeared to have been struck multiple times by other vehicles, McCulloch said.
Investigators were working to determine if the victim was a pedestrian on the road, perhaps committing suicide, or someone pushed from a car, McCulloch said.
Police have recovered debris on the side of the road and will try to work up a make and model of the hit-and-run vehicle from that, McCulloch said.
Anyone who was a witness or has any other relevant information for investigators was asked to call the San Juan Capistrano office of the CHP at (949) 487-4000 and ask for McCulloch or Officers T. Meyers and Officer M. Schuman.
— Staff and Wire Reports