Homeless man found dead along Highway 101

A homeless man found dead along U.S. Highway 101 in Sunnyvale on Friday evening has been identified as 39-year-old Robert Hernandez, according to the Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office.

It appears Hernandez passed away in his sleep near the highway off of North Mathilda Avenue along a sound wall, where he was living with other transients, California Highway Patrol Ross Lee said.

The other transients told officers that Hernandez wasn’t feeling well Thursday night and that they left him there as they went about their normal business Friday, Lee said.

When the transients returned Friday evening, they realized Hernandez likely died in his sleep and alerted authorities shortly before 5:30 p.m., according to Lee.

Emergency crews responded and pronounced Hernandez dead at the scene. Investigators do not suspect foul play in the death and suspect Hernandez died of natural causes, according to Lee.

The medical examiner’s office responded to the scene and took custody of the body, Lee said.