UPDATE (8:21 p.m.) – The stretch of Santa Rosa Road that was closed during the investigation has since reopened.
UPDATE (4:11 p.m.) – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says it is treating this as a suspicious death investigation.
Investigators haven’t revealed much about what happened, but the sheriff’s office says detectives determined the circumstances “appeared to be suspicious.”
Deputies say an investigation is underway to determine the identity of the man who died.
UPDATE (12 p.m.) – CHP reported at 11:19 a.m. the road would remain closed for at least another 4 to 5 hours.
ORIGINAL STORY: A death investigation is underway near Lompoc after a body was found Friday morning near a vehicle off Santa Rosa Road.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says a passerby called 911 at about 8:45 a.m. to report the discovery near the 5600 block of Santa Rosa Road.
The California Highway Patrol has closed a portion of the road on either side of the scene.
Authorities are working to determine the identity of the person and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The sheriff’s office asks people to stay away from the area.
