A section of Robinson Loop Road in Sterling was closed this morning after a Sterling man committed suicide on the roadway.

Alaska State Troopers received a call at 6:25 a.m. from a passing motorist who found a 19-year-old Sterling man dead in the middle of the road from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said trooper spokesperson Beth Ipsen.

The incident occurred on Robinson Loop Road near the intersection of Oomingnak Street. Troopers arrived on scene 10 minutes later and determined the man shot himself not long before he was found. Ipsen said no witnesses saw the incident.

A school bus passed the scene shortly after the incident, but was not involved, Ipsen said. It was still dark when the bus passed and the citizen blocked the road before troopers arrived, she said.

Kenai Peninsula School District spokesperson Pegge Erkeneff said a citizen was already on scene when the bus arrived and the school bus left the area immediately. None of the seven students on board saw the incident occur and it was dark when the bus came to the scene, she said.

Erkeneff said the route number 12 school bus serves middle and high school students from Kenai Alternative School, River City Academy, Skyview Middle School, Soldotna High School and Soldotna Prep.

The road was reopened by 9:30 a.m.

The name of the man is being withheld while the next of kin is in the process of being notified.