Human remains were found about 300 feet into a 26-inch-diameter culvert pipe under the 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa, authorities said on Tuesday, Oct. 18, prompting an investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Caltrans was conducting inspections of culvert pipes using robotic cameras when the remains were discovered Monday morning, said Anselmo Templado, a CHP spokesman and officer.
The remains were found near the on-ramp from Baker Street to the southbound 55 Freeway.
Culvert pipes direct storm water underground so that it doesn’t flood freeways, Templado said.
Investigators said they believe the person crawled into the culvert pipe from the on-ramp area, but they do not know why or how long ago, Templado said. The remains were discovered directly beneath the center divider of the freeway, where the pipe runs horizontally.
On Tuesday, authorities were working to get the body out of the pipe but were unclear when that would occur, Templado said. First, debris needed to be cleared out.
The coroner’s office will determine a cause of death. Foul play was not believed to be a factor.