Updated 4:45pm, Saturday: A 19-year-old found dead on a Hobart highway in the early hours of this morning was located with “significant injuries to his head”, police say.
Patrolling officers discovered the young Montrose man lying in the southbound lanes near Montrose Bay High School around 4am on Saturday.
Glenorchy CIB Detective Inspector Mark Burke said despite officers performing CPR, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The young person’s been out pretty much most of the night with his friends,” he said.
“He’s then returned home and, at about 3am this morning, he’s left home to go for a walk and then he was found here.”
Police are investigating several possibilities that may have caused his injuries, including a hit-and-run.
“At this moment, it’s a suspicious death. We don’t know exactly how this person’s died,” Burke said.
“He could have been hit by a vehicle or could have been by some other implement.”
Police spent nearly eight hours examining the area, including the Montrose foreshore and park this morning.
The Brooker Highway from Strathaven Road and north of Montrose Bay High School, along with Foreshore Road, were closed during the investigation.
“We’re appealing for anyone who was driving along the Brooker Highway … who may have witnessed a male pedestrian in the area or been involved in a crash to come forward,” Burke said.
“Police are doing everything we can to determine the circumstances of this young man’s death and it’s vital that we investigate every possibility.”
“If you were a driver in the area at the time and noticed anything of note, no matter how small, please reach out and contact police so we can investigate.”
Earlier: A body found lying on a Hobart road early this morning has prompted a major police operation, with investigators treating the death as suspicious.
Tasmania Police discovered the person on the southbound lanes of the Brooker Highway near Montrose Bay High School at about 4am during a routine patrol of the area.
First responders attempted CPR at the scene, but the person was pronounced dead shortly after.
Police have established a significant crime scene in Hobart’s northern suburbs, with officers from Criminal Investigation Branch, Forensics and uniformed divisions conducting examinations.
