Teen girl found dead on side of road in East Bay city

ANTIOCH — The discovery of a 17-year-old girl found dead by the side of the road near the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds early Friday is being treated as a suspicious death, authorities said.

Police responded about 3:30 a.m. and saw the girl on the side of the roadway in the area of L Street between West 18th and West 10th streets, Antioch police Lt. Bill Whitaker said. Officers tried to revive her, but authorities pronounced her dead at the scene.

Whitaker said initial clues showed the death to be a suspicious one.

“Seventeen-year-old’s don’t die,” Whitaker said. “That’s the main thing that makes it suspicious.”

Whitaker added that the girl was not registered in any of the Antioch school district, and that there does not appear to be narcotics involved. He said the girl had injuries that were “inconsistent with an accidental fall” but that did not necessarily indicate a homicide.

Police said they are seeking help as they investigate what happened and encouraged anyone with information to contact Det. Robert Ibanez at ribanez@antiochca.gov or 925-481-8398.