Investigators say they suspect another vehicle hit a motorcycle on Highway 183 in North Austin Thursday morning, throwing the rider to his death and dragging the motorcycle for more than a mile.

At the minimum, APD investigators say the person responsible for the hit and run faces felony charges for leaving the scene, and could be charged with vehicular homicide after Austin's 38th traffic fatality of the year.

As investigators search for clues near the mangled Harley Davidson along the Northbound 183 frontage road at the Burnet road exit ramp early Thursday morning, one thing was conspicuously absent -- a body.

It turns out, the body of Eric Laufer, 25, was located several feet up and about a mile away -- also on the northbound of side of 183 -- but actually on the highway.

"We believe that he was struck from behind. He was actually found there in the roadway and the motorcycle was apparently being pushed all the way down the exit ramp of Research Boulevard," said APD Detective James Mason.

Investigators say it appears the Laufer was not breaking any laws and that perhaps a pickup or another kind of truck struck the rider and then dragged the bike down the exit ramp, as the skid marks indicate.

"I think that's absolutely terrible especially if it's just a hit and run," said Anthony McEvoy, motorcyclist.

He just avoided a couple of collisions shortly before we caught up with him pumping gas.

When asked when's the last time he had some close calls, McEvoy replied, "Today already twice in the same lane. Two different cars."

"A lot of drivers don't even put their blinker on when they change lanes, it seems. They don't care because they've got like a truck or a car and if they get hit nothing will happen to them, but if I get hit, I'm dead you know," said Jordan Lamarre, motorcyclist.

Warren Egger, the general manager of Ducati Austin, advises customers that situational awareness is a must, but he says there's no escaping the fact that often motorcycles are more difficult to see. "Buses make a big impression on you, trains and trucks make a big impression but when you look one way and then the other, motorcycles don't present a very big target to look at," Egger said.

Police are looking for a vehicle, perhaps a pickup truck with recent front end damage.

If you have any information about this case you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 472-TIPS.