The man's body found in the median of a south metro highway Thursday afternoon may have been there for some time.
Authorities were still trying to figure out how the body landed in the median of Hwy. 169 near Canterbury Road in Shakopee, but it might have been related to a crash in the same area Wednesday night where two people were seen running away, according to emergency dispatch audio.
Police received several 911 calls about the Wednesday crash, which occurred about 10:35 p.m. and involved at least two cars.
"We received information that one vehicle was occupied by two with no injuries; the other vehicle the occupants took off running," the dispatch audio said.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a Hyundai Elantra veered left into the median and crashed before coming to a stop in the left lane on northbound Highway 169.
A short time later, a 2005 Saturn Ion was driving in the left lane of northbound Hwy. 169 when it struck the Elantra.
The Elantra was pushed onto the right shoulder. Troopers could not find the driver of the Elantra.
A person called police around 3 p.m. Thursday to report a body in the median in the same area near Cameron's Coffee.
"It was a white male with a black shirt and blue pants," the audio said.
One officer said he heard a call about debris in the median and asked "Can you confirm that? Or is it a person?" the audio said.
Another officer said, "It looks like a dummy laying in the median there."
Shortly after, the report about the body was confirmed.
"This is a DOA," the audio said.
Shakopee police and the State Patrol responded to the scene and shut down parts of the southbound lanes. An ambulance was called and then canceled.
"From what the deputies are saying, it looks like it's been there for a while," the dispatch audio said.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating but did not say whether the body was related to the crash Wednesday night.
The name of the victim has not been released.
