Body found along I-70 believed to have been cyclist

Columbia police are investigating what happened to a man whose body found along Interstate 70 Saturday afternoon.

The man is being identified only as a 36-year-old Columbia man. His name was withheld Saturday night pending DNA examination.

Sgt. Curtis Perkins told ABC 17 News officers got a couple of calls about a suspicious boot and lots of blood on the highway near the Lake of the Woods exit (130 mile marker) just before 1 p.m.

The man’s body was found near a bicycle and Perkins said investigators were treating the case as a cyclist-vehicle collision. It was not yet clear Saturday when the crash happened.

Police said in a news release the victim had been wearing a dark brown sweatshirt, black shirt, blue jeans and boots. Investigators also found a black backpack and wallet at the scene.

The investigation Saturday caused lane closures on westbound Interstate 70, slowing traffic.

The commute was hampered by a rollover crash in the same area during the investigation. At one point, westbound traffic had backed up into Callaway County.

The body had been turned over to the Boone County Medical Examiner Saturday night and police were continuing an investigation.

Columbia police said officers had received a complaint about a dead deer along Interstate 70 at the 128 mile marker at 3:59 a.m. Saturday. Highway Patrol troopers forwarded the truck driver to CPD and that driver met officers to describe what he thought he hit.

It was unclear Saturday if those incidents were related, according to officers.

Stay with ABC 17 News and abc17news.com for updates as they become available.