UPDATE 2/7/23 — The body of a California man killed on I-44 early Monday was found in the median after a Republic man contacted law enforcement to report he thought he hit something with his pickup truck.

The dead man, Craig Griffitts, 53, of Oroville, California, was found between the lanes near West Bypass about 11 a.m. after the driver of a 2004 Chevrolet Sonoma told officers he thought he had struck something in the roadway in that area about 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike McClure said today the driver contacted officials after 8 a.m. Monday and the search took a few hours before the body was found. Griffitts was wearing dark clothing and the body was obscured from the roadway by a guard rail.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:47 p.m., according to an online accident report.

Griffitts is the eighth traffic fatality for Troop D in 2023.

Original story, published Feb. 6, 2023:

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported to the area of I-44 near West Bypass where a body was found in between the median and lanes of the highway.

According to Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike McClure, MoDOT workers found the body in the median between lanes of I-44 Monday morning.

The person has been identified as Craig Griffitts, 53, from Oroville, California.

According to the MSHP crash report, A vehicle driven by a Republic man struck Griffitts on the roadway.

This is the 8th fatality for Troop D in 2023.