WATERLOO, Md. -- Police said several drivers struck a human body on Interstate 95 in Maryland and did not stop.

The corpse was recovered from the northbound lanes of I-95 in Howard County, Md., Monday about 5 a.m.

Police said the body, which was struck several times by passing vehicles, was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office in Baltimore to determine the cause of death.

The state police academy sent more than 40 cadets and instructors to search the shoulder and adjoining roadside for clues to what happened.

"They could've wandered on the interstate, they could've been pushed out of a vehicle, they could have jumped out of a vehicle, we just don't know at this time. That's why it's being conducted as a death investigation, in case something sinister was involved," state police Sgt. Rob Moroney said.

"We're not exactly sure what occurred that led to this person being in the roadway," he said.

Because of that uncertainty, Moroney said the case is being handled as a death investigation rather than a pedestrian accident.

"The first responding trooper found a body that had been hit multiple times by vehicles," Moroney said. "It's a very gruesome scene, unfortunately."

He said one witness came forward with information.

A helicopter took aerial photographs, and police cadets scoured the scene in a search for clues.

"We have very little to go on at this point in time," Moroney said. "It's very unfortunate. We have investigators here, our crash team is here, and behind us, the 125th candidate class is getting ready to do a shoulder-to-shoulder area search of the scene."

State police closed Interstate 95 early Monday morning for more than seven hours to investigate the discovery.

If you have any information regarding this case, contact the Maryland State Police Waterloo Barrack by dialing (410) 799-2101.