COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A woman's body was found on the side of a gravel road near Schriever Air Force Base, east of Colorado Springs Monday morning.

The woman, who appeared to have been shot to death, was found by an Ellicott school bus driver who was transporting students to school. The victim appeared to be in her 20s, police said.

The bus driver called 911 at about 7:15 a.m. and investigators blocked off the area of Book Drive and Milne Road.

A second school bus was dispatched to pick up the children while the driver was interviewed by investigators.

The driver drove past the woman's body and pulled over, so the children on the bus wouldn't see it. The woman's body was in a ditch along Book Drive.

El Paso County Sheriff's Lt. Lari Sevene said it appeared the woman was killed at the location and not dumped there. She said it appeared the woman had been shot and killed sometime during the night.

"If there's anyone who's looking for a loved one, a female, unfortunately, we need to know," says Lt. Lari Sevene with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.