(DPS) — On Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at about 11:45 p.m., the Department of Public Safety received a 911 call reporting an auto run-off incident across the Joeten Supermarket in Kagman. Police units responded to the scene.
At the scene, police met with the operator of the vehicle who stated that the vehicle’s brakes had stopped functioning.
The operator stated that there was a vehicle in front traveling in the same direction and another oncoming vehicle in the opposite lane.
The operator decided to drive on the shoulder of the road, before veering into the water drainage. The vehicle continued traveling down before hitting a slab culvert.
The operator and the four passengers were transported to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. The operator sustained a fractured right clavicle and the three passengers sustained an abrasion, facial contusion, and one claimed to have head pain. The fourth passenger sustained blunt force trauma to the head and was pronounced dead by Dr. Matt Nelson at CHCC at about 1:15 a.m.
The other occupants were treated and released.
Speed, alcohol, and drugs have been found to be contributing factors to the crash. This crash investigation remains ongoing.
