A grisly discovery was made in the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning, that of a man lying dead in the road in front of DeKalb Middle School on Highway 70.

The man, identified as Gyula Gulyas, 51, of Brush Creek who had immigrated here from his native Hungary, was discovered lying dead in the four-lane by a passing motorist at 2:30 a.m. The exact time of what lawmen suspect was a fatal hit and run is unknown; however, investigators have learned Gulyas was last seen alive as he was leaving Twisted Oaks earlier that morning. Trooper Bobby Johnson, who is heading the probe of Gulyas’ death and looking for the motorist who killed him, said the victim became stuck in a ditch as he was trying to leave the establishment. He then set out on foot, leaving his vehicle stuck and began walking along Highway 70 toward Smithville.

While there are no apparent witnesses to the fatal accident, Johnson believes the hit-and-run driver may have been driving a silver in color 2006 to 2010 Jeep Commander SUV due to paint chips and a portion of the grill found on the highway near the victim’s body.

Anyone with information about who was driving or where the suspect vehicle may be located is asked to call the highway patrol at 1-423-954-230.