Manuel Ramirez, 20, of Magnolia died in a single-car accident Jan. 31 on Nichols Sawmill road south of Country Lake Road.

According to DPS Trooper Jonothan Aldridge, the crash occurred around 4:30 a.m. Aldridge received the call about 4:45 a.m. and once he arrived on the scene, EMS had declared Ramirez dead.

Aldridge said that Ramirez had fallen asleep behind the wheel of his 2006 Pontiac G6 and slowly drifted off of the roadway into the ditch. He continued into the ditch about 300 feet before clipping a culvert, causing the vehicle to flip in the air and roll. The Pontiac landed on the roadway upside down, crushing the roof.

Ramirez was headed southbound on Nichols Sawmill toward Butera Road where he resided in the Timberlock subdivision, Aldridge reported.

According to Aldridge, Ramirez was coming from Houston. He had dropped off one friend who lived nearby and was already showing signs that he was tired. The friend offered to let him stay, but Ramirez decided to make the drive home.

Friends of Ramirez told Aldridge he had not been drinking that night. Aldridge believes he simply fell asleep behind the wheel.

“I have reason to believe he at least fell asleep. I don’t know if there was anything involved,” he said.

Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Matt Masden ordered an autopsy be performed. The autopsy has been completed, but results were not released as of press time last week.

No other occupants were in the vehicle and no other vehicles were involved.

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