Death of young man found on Cape Breton highway deemed suspicious

Cape Breton Regional Police are investigating after a young man was found on Highway 223 inLeitchesCreek, outside of Sydney, N.S., early Sunday morning andlater declared dead at hospital.

Police were called to the scene around 3:37 a.m. after someone reported finding a person on the highway.

Staff Sergeant Bill Turner told CBC News that victimwas a youth.

Turner said there had been a big party further up the road inLeitchesCreek, which he believes wasa high school graduationparty.

Turnersaid he could notconfirm if the young man was coming from the party, but does notbelieve hewasa graduate due to his age.

The teen was not dead upon arrival, he said.

"They transported him. They don't transport unless there's a sign of life, but [he died] very shortly after his time of arrival at the hospital."

An autopsy is scheduled Sunday afternoonin Halifax.

The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Educationsaid Sunday it will not be commenting on the death.