Body found near freeway embankment by Balboa Park

A man was found dead Friday near the southbound state Route 163 embankment near Balboa Park.

The body was discovered about 7:29 a.m. by a bystander near a fence at the top of the embankment at the Interstate 5 transition, according to the California Highway Patrol.

“For reasons under investigation, the unidentified man suffered a medical emergency and was pronounced dead at the scene,” CHP Officer Kimberly Gonzalez said. “A toxicology report is pending through the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.”

The cause of death and the sequence of events leading up to it remained under investigation by the San Diego-area CHP, Gonzalez said.

The man, described as about 40 years old, was pronounced dead at 7:50 a.m. His name was being withheld pending notification of his family.

The CHP said the man was found about 20 feet down from the fence line, and there was a tent nearby, although it was unclear whether it was connected to the incident.

Anyone with information was asked to call the CHP San Diego Area office at 858-293-6000.