Man finds decomposed body after car breaks down on highway

WAKE COUNTY, NC -- A man made a gruesome discovery after his car broke down on the side of a North Carolina highway.

The Wake County Sheriff confirmed to ABC11 deputies had found human remains Friday on the side of I-540 eastbound.

The remains were discovered about 15-20 feet from the guard rail in the woods, just west of Falls of Neuse Road on I-540.

The sheriff's office said a man whose vehicle had broken down was walking to find a repair shop when he found the remains about 6 p.m.

Daniel Growe's car trouble took a disturbing turn on his walk for help.

"I took a straight line through the woods," Growe told ABC11 exclusively. He said he was on his way to a nearby Auto Zone.

Amid the brush and the litter, the grisly discovery stopped Growe in his tracks.

"I noticed something that wasn't trash, and a pair of pants with some bones and a skull, and apparently they'd been there for a long time," Growe said. "I called police immediately and said, 'Hey guys, come over!"

Growe led deputies to the body, which was badly decomposed. It appears the dead person was clothed in a black, short-sleeve shirt and blue jeans. A para cord bracelet was found near the body, and the person's hair was in a ponytail.

The sheriff's office said it appeared the person had had surgery at some point, as a plate was found near the hip and pelvic area.

The body is being sent to the Medical Examiners office to determine cause of death and identify the body.

Anyone with any information is asked to please call the Wake County Sheriff's Office at (919)856-6911.

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