Police determine man whose body was found in roadway in Ventura died from assault, not crash

Police in Ventura launched a homicide investigation on Sunday after determining that a man whose body was discovered in a roadway did not die as a result of a traffic collision, investigators said.

Around 1:22 a.m., the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call reporting an accident with injuries involving a vehicle and pedestrian near the intersection of Ventura Ave. and De Anza Dr. Officers responded to the scene and found the body of a 35-year-old man. His identity has not been released.

During the course of their investigation, authorities were able to determine that the victim had sustained fatal injuries as a result of an assault and not a traffic collision. 

No suspect description was available. Investigators have not released any information about a suspect vehicle.

Anyone with information about this homicide was asked to contact the Ventura Police Department at 805-339-4488. An anonymous tip can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.