A Mineral Wells man died of smoke inhalation when his friend drove drunk and caused the truck the two were in to catch on fire, police say.
Duane E. Hamrick, 44, of Parkersburg, is charged with DUI causing death, a felony, according to a news release from the Parkersburg Police Department.
Hamrick was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Colorado in the area of 19th Street and Juliana Street in Parkersburg on Saturday when he made a wrong turn into a cemetery and got the vehicle stuck after crashing into several tombstones, police say. Hamrick allegedly caused the vehicle to catch on fire when attempting to remove it from the cemetery.
He was able to leave his truck and walk a short distance before being detained by police. The Parkersburg Fire Department then arrived and extinguished the fire. Matthew Stanley, a longtime friend of Hamrick's, was found deceased inside. He had been severely burned.
Police say Hamrick was not cooperative. He allegedly refused to conduct field sobriety tests and was taken to Camden Clark Medical Center for treatment.
On Sunday, he allegedly admitted to police that he had been heavily intoxicated when he wrecked the truck, and that he had put the vehicle into four wheel drive and passed out with his foot on the accelerator. He woke up to a truck filled with smoke and saw fire in the front of the vehicle.
An autopsy Tuesday found that Stanley died of smoke inhalation.
Hamrick posted bond, set at $5,000, after he was arrested on Thursday. He faces three to 15 years in prison if convicted.