The police watchdog is to investigate Essex Police response to events leading to the death of a 28-year-old man who was struck and killed while walking along the A12 near Chelmsford.
The force received three 999 calls between 3am and 3.40am on October 30, indicating three different locations for a pedestrian on the carriageway.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission said officers in a police vehicle then searched a stretch of the A12, but were unable to find him.
After another emergency call, officers discovered a body on the road between Chelmsford and Hatfield Peverel. It was later identified as that of Kyle Brooks, from Harlow. He had been struck by a number of vehicles.
An inquest at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford was opened and adjourned on November 5.
An IPCC investigator has since met with Mr Brooks' family to explain the body's role and how the investigation will progress.
IPCC Commissioner Mary Cunneen said: "I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Mr Brooks at this difficult time.
"We will be examining communication between police call handlers and the officers who conducted the search, and whether Essex Police's response was adequate on the basis of information available."
