KTRE.com Lufkin and Nacogdoches |Autopsy rules 94 bridge death an accident

Autopsy rules 94 bridge death an accident

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - An autopsy rules the cause of death of a Diboll man to be an accident, which is consistent with the Angelina County Sheriff's Department's findings.

The autopsy of Anthony Brent West, 38, stated the "findings are consistent with a fall. Investigation by Angelina County Sheriff's Office is consistent with a fall from the bridge rather than foul play ... If other investigation reveals a different cause and/or manner of death, this autopsy will be amended."

West was found dead the evening of May 18 on the northwest side of the Angelina County Bridge on the banks of the Neches River.

The autopsy showed West to have died from a broken neck. His blood-alcohol level was .449, five times the legal limit of .08, and he had cocaine in his system.

Other drugs found in his system were barbiturates, benzodiazepine, beannabinoids, methadone, opiates, phencyclidine and propoxyphene.

Dr. Tommy J. Brown conducted the autopsy on May 19 at Southeast Texas Forensic Center.

According to the Angelina County Sheriff's Department, this case is still under investigation.