Brig. Yousuf Al-Qahtani said the man in his 60s turned himself in to police after the victim was found dead in the desert 70 km east of the northeastern city of Hafr Al-Batin.

He did not identify the confessor, but said he was in the same place the shepherd was before he died.

The man told police he hit something in the bad weather and mist while driving. At the time he did not know what it was until he heard the shepherd had died, he said. The old man added that he had been looking for his camels. 

Al-Qahtani said forensic reports indicated the shepherd had died of bruises and cracks in his chest.