Christian Martinez, and John Scheibe

Ventura

Investigators with the California Highway Patrol said Tuesday afternoon that a man in his late 60s whose body was discovered Tuesday morning on Highway 101 in Thousand Oaks was likely killed by a passing vehicle.

"Someone out there knows they struck a human being or a large object early this morning. Following the collision, they did nothing," R.D. Cohan, a CHP commander in Moorpark, said in a statement.

"There is no evidence to suggest they returned to the scene to check on what they struck or dialed 911," Cohan said. "You need to do the right thing and call us."

Numerous motorists reported seeing a body near the center divider at about 7:30 a.m., the CHP said. It was described as an unknown object wrapped in a blanket along northbound Highway 101 near Rancho Road, officials said.

Investigators later said evidence suggests the 68-year-old man was struck and killed by a passing vehicle early Tuesday.

"The exact time is not known at this time," the CHP said.

The man apparently was trying to cross the freeway when he was struck and killed, investigators said.

Investigators said the man was not wrapped in a blanket as originally suggested. Instead, his clothing made it appear as if he had a blanket around him.

Investigators said they suspect the vehicle that hit and killed him might have been a Toyota.

No other information regarding the vehicle is known at this time, they said.

Investigators said the man suffered from dementia and may have wandered onto the freeway.

The CHP closed a lane adjacent to the center median for about four hours while the CHP investigated his death.

The CHP said the incident is "currently being investigated as a felony hit-and-run traffic.

Potential witnesses to the collision are encouraged to contact the CHP's Moorpark office at 553-0800.

See also: