Man Found Dead Near 101 Onramp Could Not Have Walked There, Says Investigator

The man found dead alongside an on-ramp to the 101 Freeway Saturday morning could not have made it there by himself.

Lt. Wesley Burhmester of the LAPD Rampart Division told Echo Park Patch that's what an investigator from the  L.A. County Coroner believes.

Rampart Division police and the coroner's office believe the man "may have fatally overdosed, and that [his companions] either panicked or may have been complicit in providing the drugs, and ended up leaving him at roadside."

They are conducting their investigation with that in mind.

Drivers trying to go south on the 101 Freeway from Silver Lake Boulevard Saturday morning found the onramp closed for several hours after the body of a man in his 20s was found nearby just after 10:30 a.m.

The southbound onramp was closed for several hours--and a SIG alert was issued--as investigators tried to figure out what happened to the man.

According to Lt. Burhmester, officers from the California Highway Patrol verified he had not been hit by a car while walking.  

Burhmester said investigators will now try to find out whre he last lived and start contacting acquaintances and family.

Buhrmester said that might lead to those who saw him last alive, to verify how he died and why he was left at roadside instead of being taken to an emergency room.

Buhrmester also said an autopsy, with toxicology testing, will be conducted this week.