PONTIAC - A 54-year-old man's decapitated body was found in a tow truck early Thursday after bystanders reported seeing the truck moving erratically and dragging a chain.

The death remains under investigation, but authorities do not suspect foul play.

The man's name won't be released until relatives are notified, said Livingston County Coroner Michael Burke.

The truck was found near the intersection of Illinois 116 and U.S. 66 after bystanders called police about 4:30 a.m.

Police found the man's body in the truck, which had ended up in a ditch. His head was found in the parking lot of S&R Route 66 Auto Center, 1026 W. Reynolds St.

A 911 caller reported the truck had left the S&R parking lot, traveled east through another parking lot and hit a sign before crossing Route 66 and going down an embankment, said Jim Woolford, administrative commander for Pontiac police.

S&R owner Jeff Semmens said he was told by authorities it appears the man wrapped the chain from an S&R tow truck around his neck and around a pole before driving away.

Semmens said the man left a note but police have not shared the contents with him.

"I'm not sure why he did it at 4:30 (a.m.) but he knows I come into work at 5 (a.m.)" Semmens said.

Semmens said there was little traffic at the time of the incident.

Pontiac police are working with the coroner's office and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services.

In March 2005, Livingston County authorities investigated the death of a Chicago man who died in a similar manner near Manville. A coroner's jury ruled that death a suicide.

In that case, a 52-year-old Chicago man tied a metal cable around a bridge post, looped the cable around his neck and then accelerated.