Emporia (WIBW) - An Emporia State University All-American track athlete who'd been missing since Sunday was found dead Wednesday night.

Emporia Police say 24-year old Samuel Williams was the victim of a traffic accident.

They say a Lyon County Sheriff's Deputy found his body just before 5 pm Wednesday at K-99 highway and Road 190, about a tenth a mile off the road. They say it appears he lost control, hit a road sign, and was thrown off the bike.

ESU says Williams was a junior business management major from the African nation of Ivory Coast. He was an All-American in both indoor and outdoor track this past season and was a member of ESU's school-record setting 4x100-meter relay team.

ESU track coach David Harris says Williams ran the 60 meter indoor events and 200 meter outdoor events for the Hornets. Last year was his first season at ESU.

ESU’s track team has organized a candlelight vigil for Williams. It will take place 8 pm Thursday at Zola Whitten Track at Welsh Stadium on the ESU campus. Visitors are asked to enter on the west side of the stadium.

“The Emporia State University family shares in the loss of Samuel Williams, and we want his family to know that they are in our thoughts during this difficult time,” said Dr. Michael R. Lane, ESU president.