An autopsy is underway on the body of a 17-year-old found dead along Hwy 2A early Thursday morning.
Sgt. Patrick Webb said results could be available later Thursday.
“We don’t know the cause of death,” Webb said. “It could be accidental. He could have been struck by a vehicle or something. But at the same time it could be a homicide. So we don’t know.”
Webb said the autopsy should be able to give police officers a clearer picture of the cause of death. He said they treat every death outside of a hospital and unexplained as suspicious.
He said the area was closed off along the southbound Hwy 2A lane in order to allow for officers to collect evidence today.
“It’s better to collect evidence right off the bat rather than to go back later and look,” Webb said.
Red Deer Rural RCMP and Red Deer Emergency Services responded to a 1:30 a.m. today call of a person lying on the highway’s side about a half kilometre south of Red Deer. Officers found a 17-year-old male from Penhold dead at the scene.
Police are investigating to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and believe events between 11:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. relate to the death. They’re asking the public to contact them if they witnessed any suspicious activity or pedestrian in the area around those times.