A Valley man on probation for driving under the influence was charged with DUI and criminally negligent homicide after his passenger died as a result of a car accident early Saturday morning.
Valley Police Chief Michael Taylor said Donald Dandridge Jr., 40, of Valley was driving home, headed south on Columbus Road, about 3 a.m., with Edwin Mondwell Finley, 27, of Valley as the passenger, when Dandridge lost control near the intersection of Columbus and Hilldale roads.
Chambers County Coroner Jeff Jones said Dandridge overcompensated the direction of the vehicle, hit a tree and subsequently overturned the vehicle. Finley, who was not wearing a seatbelt, according to Jones, was not ejected from the vehicle, but did suffer blunt force trauma. Jones said he pronounced him dead at the scene at 3:15 a.m.
Taylor said Dandridge’s blood alcohol content was undetermined, but officers at the scene said he exhibited symptoms of someone under the influence.
The case has been forwarded to Paul Jones, district attorney for the Fifth Circuit of Alabama, for prosecution, Taylor said.
Jones said Finley’s body will be sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science.
In another case, Valley police arrested Matthew Dewayne Roberts, 24, of Lanett on Friday and charged him with second-degree sexual abuse, second-degree unlawful imprisonment and soliciting a child by computer.
Taylor said a 14-year-old girl from Valley filed the report with the department after she and Roberts had a meeting, during which he allegedly sexually assaulted her. Taylor said the young girl knew Roberts. During questioning by police, Taylor said Roberts admitted he used the Internet to solicit sex.
This case has also been forwarded to the DA’s office, Taylor said.
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