Troopers are seeking the driver who struck and killed a pedestrian who was found dead on the side of a Belmont County road early Wednesday.

Jason Cattane, 31, was walking along the shoulder of U.S. Route 40 at North Ebbert Road in St. Clairsville when a driver struck him and kept going, police said.

Officials with the Ohio State Highway Patrol said they have a suspect based on evidence from the scene. The suspect's name had not been released as of 4:30 p.m.

A crash reconstructionist, along with the Highway Patrol's Cambridge district headquarters, processed the evidence, which was collected and sent to a crime lab in Columbus. The results will then be sent to the Belmont County Prosecutor's Office for review.

A high school student who was out for a run made the discovery around 6 a.m.

Aaron Ebbert, the St. Clairsville High School junior who discovered Cattane's body, told NEWS9, "When I saw those shoes in the middle of the road, I had a suspicion that something else was up. ...I immediately turned around and went up to the house, got my mom, then we called 911. And within a minute, they were here."

Belmont County deputies and troopers from the St. Clairsville post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol found the man dead from what they called a pedestrian hit-skip crash.

"It was apparent that he had been struck by a motor vehicle. The vehicle had left the scene," a news release from the OSHP stated.

Cattane's driver's license says he is from Maynard, and officials said his family resides in Bridgeport. His body was taken to East Ohio Regional Hospital. Authorities said they think he may have died immediately, judging by his injuries.

OSHP is asking anyone with information to contact the St. Clairsville post at 740-695-0915. People can also call the NEWS9 Lauttamus Security Crime Busters Tipline at 800-862-BUST or email tips to crimebusters@wtov.com.

A NEWS9 crew is at the scene. Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9.com and WTOV9 Mobile for continuing coverage as more information becomes available.