CRITICALLY INJURED MAN FOUND LYING ON OFF-RAMP.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

An unidentified man remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday after he apparently was struck by a vehicle as he lay on a freeway off-ramp, California Highway Patrol officials said.

A CHP officer found the injured man at 3:55 a.m. Friday at the Pearblossom Highway off-ramp of the northbound Antelope Valley Freeway, and he was airlifted to Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills.

CHP officials said they believe the man was lying on the freeway off-ramp before he was struck in the head by a vehicle which then kept going.

``We don't know for what reason he was laying on the freeway,'' said CHP Officer Gayla Cowan. ``Maybe his car broke down and he suffered a stroke.''

Officials said they do not know who he is. They figure he was in his mid-30s and Latino.

``We don't know anything about this man,'' Cowan said. ``He had no I.D. on him.''

CHP officials said they have not yet located any witnesses, but have based their theory on the way injuries were inflicted to the man's head.

CHP officials believe the driver may have become frightened and driven away after the man was hit.

``We're hoping that somebody will come forward with some information - maybe somebody traveling southbound might have seen what happened,'' Cowan said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lancaster CHP office at [phone].