UPDATE: U.S. 40 from Mt. Comfort Road to CR 500 W is back open in both directions after a fatal crash, INDOT says.

CUMBERLAND, Ind. (WISH) — U.S. 40 was closed for several hours Thursday morning after a Hancock County deputy struck a man who was lying in the middle of the road near Cumberland.

At 3:55 a.m., Hancock County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a welfare check concerning a report of a man lying in the roadway somewhere near U.S. 40 east of Mt. Comfort Rd.

Officers arrived and began to search for the man, but there was dense fog in the area. The man was lying in the travel lanes of U.S. 40, 1/2 mile east of 600 west, and was struck by a Hancock County deputy searching the area.

Officials say that the 41-year-old man was wearing dark clothing and was pronounced dead at the scene. It is not known if the man was dead before or after he was struck.

His name is not being released until confirmed and his family is notified.

The New Palestine Police Department is investigating the incident.