Editor’s Note: The Dispatch has a policy not to report suicides unless the incident involves a public figure or if the act is committed in public.

A man was found dead Sunday afternoon hanging behind a billboard on Highway 45 in what police believe to be a suicide.

Columbus Police Department, Columbus Fire and Rescue and multiple ambulances responded to the scene just after noon. A CFR ladder truck was seen lifting personnel behind a billboard beside the southbound traffic lanes across from Citizens National Bank next to Shelter Insurance.

For roughly two and a half hours, Columbus Police Department rerouted traffic to avoid public exposure to the scene. Northbound traffic was rerouted at Chubby Drive, and southbound traffic was rerouted at Bluecutt Road.

Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant was at the scene but authorities have not yet identified the body, CPD Public Information Officer Johannah Owusu said. She added that while suicide is suspected, the investigation is ongoing.

Merchant told The Dispatch in a text a male was seen on the sign structure around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. The man was from Columbus.