Police investigate death of man found on I-35 near downtown San Antonio overnight Friday

Incident reported in early morning hours on southbound Interstate 35 near César E. Chávez

San Antonio police are investigating the death of a man found on the roadway early Friday near downtown, after officers were called to the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 close to West César E. Chávez Boulevard.

First responders arrived at about 1 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, and found a man lying in the roadway with visible injuries consistent with broken bones. He was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

What is confirmed so far—and what remains unclear

At this stage, investigators have not publicly determined how the man ended up in the traffic lanes or whether a vehicle struck him. Police characterized the circumstances as under investigation, and the cause and manner of death had not been released Friday morning.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to formally identify the deceased and determine the cause of death through its standard investigative process.

• Location: Southbound I-35 near West César E. Chávez Boulevard, in the downtown area.

• Time: About 1 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.

• Initial findings: Adult male found lying in the roadway; pronounced dead at the scene.

• Status: Investigation ongoing; medical examiner to confirm identity and cause of death.

How investigators typically work cases like this

When a death occurs on a major highway and the sequence of events is not immediately established, investigators generally work to reconstruct the incident by documenting the scene, locating potential witnesses, reviewing available roadway or nearby surveillance footage, and examining vehicles that may have been involved. Traffic investigators also look for physical evidence such as debris patterns, skid marks, and injury consistency.

Police have not announced whether the death resulted from a collision, a medical emergency, or another event.

What could come next

Further updates are expected as the medical examiner completes identification and as investigators determine the events leading up to the man being found on the interstate. Any determination about criminal charges typically depends on whether evidence indicates a driver involved failed to stop, was impaired, drove recklessly, or otherwise violated the law.

Anyone with information about the early-morning incident near downtown is encouraged to contact San Antonio police.