A 23-year-old man’s body was discovered on the southbound 605 Freeway Tuesday night after he was seen running onto the freeway where he was struck by a car and killed, prompting the temporary closure of almost all southbound lanes.

Around 10:00PM Tuesday evening, Jesus Esparza of Hawaiian Gardens ran west along the 605 Freeway north of Wardlow Road, just as David Jessie Ross Jr. 20, of Garden Grove drove south in his 2005 BMW on the freeway in the No. 2 lane at roughly 65 miles per hour. Cristina Villa Morales, 30, of Signal Hill was driving her 2012 BMW in the No. 3 lane, at 65 miles per hour, going southbound as well.

According to authorities, Ross saw Esparza and tried to veer out of his way but could not avoid hitting him. His car then collided with Morales’ vehicle as he swerved. Both drivers were interviewed at the scene by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the victim was found on the freeway just south of Carson Street at 10:08PM Tuesday, and had been hit by at least one vehicle.

The CHP promptly shut down all lanes except for the carpool and No. 1 lanes for the death investigation and declared a signal alert. The lanes were reopened and the sig alert canceled at 3:15AM Wednesday morning.

City News Service contributed to this report.