Michael Brown: Port Aransas Jeep crash kills spring break student, video shows man writhing on roof; 5 things to know
A spring break video went viral for all the wrong reasons, ending in tragedy. Michael Brown, 22, died after being thrown from the roof of a speeding Jeep in Port Aransas, Texas. Here’s everything you need to know.
What happened?
According to KIII-TVOn March 14, Brown was photographed shirtless and twerking on the roof of a moving Jeep as it sped down Highway 361. The video went viral almost immediately. Soon after, drunken driver Riley Rhoades, 24, crashed into a Tesla, sending Brown flying off the roof onto the highway
Brown died days after the accident
Brown suffered serious head injuries in the accident and was pronounced dead on Friday, KIII-TV reported. The medical examiner confirmed his death but gave no further details. Another person involved in the incident was also taken to hospital with serious head injuries.
The driver is drunk
Rhodes was arrested at the scene for driving under the influence. According to court documents obtained “Daily Mail” quoted KIII 3 Newshis blood alcohol content measured 0.14 and 0.12 on a breath test, while the legal limit in Texas is 0.08. He has been charged with intoxication assault and is being held on bail.
Rhodes was detained
Rhodes was charged with intoxication assault and is being held without bond.
It’s part of a chaotic spring break weekend
The incident was one of several that occurred during Port Aransas’ busy spring break weekend. Port Aransas, a town of about 3,000 residents, receives as many as 80,000 to 100,000 visitors during this period. Police said they arrested more than a dozen people for driving under the influence. In a separate incident, a 17-year-old man in San Antonio allegedly shot and killed five people on a beach Saturday night.
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Local mayor Wendy Moore told local media the town was struggling to cope with the crowds.
“We want these residents and visitors to know that we work very hard to isolate these things and keep them safe, and I hope they will be equally aware of their surroundings,” she said.
