RIPON – The body of an unidentified man was discovered at Love’s Travel Stop in Ripon Monday afternoon.

The 50-year-old was found inside one of the trucks parked at the popular rest and gas stop at Jack Tone Road on the west side of busy Highway 99. Love’s is just across the street from Flying J, another busy truck stop well known among truckers plying this major highway route.

According to initial reports, the man appeared to have died from natural causes. However, the incident is under investigation by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sgt. Steve Merchant of the Ripon Police Department.

The body was taken to the county Coroner’s Office while the investigation is ongoing. Other than his age, no other information about the identity of the deceased was released pending the notification of next of kin which is the standard protocol.

The officer assigned to the case was still putting together the report late Monday afternoon; however, “we don’t suspect any foul play at this time,” Merchant said.

He said police were dispatched to Love’s Travel Stop after receiving a call from a trucking company in Southern California to check on one of their drivers.

“The trucking company called us about 2 p.m. and asked us to check on the welfare of a driver whom they could not contact,” Merchant said.

After employees at Love’s located the vehicle in question, police attempted to get inside but were unable to open the truck’s door. However, they saw what they believe was a person lying inside the vehicle.

The police then called the Ripon Fire Department and when the firefighters arrived, “they pried the door open” and found that the man had passed away.

Through information provided by the man’s employer, it appeared that the driver “had some medical problems,” Merchant said.

“This was an out-of-town trucking company from Southern California that gave us a call,” he added.