A man is dead after a bizarre incident on a Nova Scotia highway.

Police say someone reported hitting an object on a ramp on Highway 102, near Lacewood Drive in Halifax, just after 2 a.m. Wednesday.

When officers arrived at the scene they found a man lying near the road. The 24-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say it appears the man was on the highway when he was struck by a sport utility vehicle that was travelling outbound towards Bedford.

"At approximately 2:10 this morning one of our officers from the RCMP Halifax District was travelling along the 102 outbound and when she was approaching Lacewood Drive exit she observed a green minivan that appeared to be stolen," RCMP Const. Tammy Lobb confirmed to CTV News.

Police say the stolen vehicle was found about one kilometre from the crash scene. They contacted the registered owner of the vehicle and determined it belonged to a Dartmouth resident who had reported it stolen.

Police say it is unclear whether the victim was running away from the stolen vehicle when he was struck by the SUV.

"That may turn out to be a secondary investigation, depending on how we make out," says HRP Const. Brian Palmeter. "Obviously we are looking to see if it's connected to the crash."

Police say it is unlikely the driver of the SUV, who was treated for shock, will face criminal charges.

They also say poor visibility due to foggy conditions may have contributed to the crash.

Jim Myers lives in an apartment overlooking the stretch of highway where the accident occurred.

"It's a very busy traffic area," says Myers. "It's a main highway in and out of the city."

He also says it's not uncommon to see a pedestrian trying to cross the busy stretch.

"You do occasionally…people will try to get across," says Myers. "And sometimes at high traffic time."

A section of Highway 102 was closed for several hours while investigators attended the scene but it has since re-opened.

Police say they will continue to investigate in an effort to determine if the stolen vehicle is connected to the crash.