By Lori Raab
Redmond, Ore. – It’s another weather related death in Redmond. Police say the 21 year old local man who died in a car fire on Friday night had gotten stuck in the snow several times that night. Witnesses say that Samuel Villa had been driving a 2000 Plymouth Breeze and was stuck in heavy snow at around 9:30 p.m near NW 19th and NW Larch.
Police say someone in the neighborhood helped him for about 45 minutes to try to get the car unstuck. The person said during that time the Breeze was freed from the snow and then stuck again a few more times. Villa was reportedly revvying the engine “to the max” during this time and the witness also says he was getting very angry.
Villa pulled free of the heavy snow around 10:30 and then continued west bound on NW Larch toward NW 21st,
That’s where it became stuck again and police believe that Villa climbed into the back seat to rest or sleep and kep the engine running in order to run the heater to stay warm.
It’s believed that the fire was caused by the revving engine, heated up transmission fluids and a transmission fluid leak. Villa was still alive at the time of the fire and died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Police say there is no indication at this point that his death was anything other than accidental.
In another weather related death in Redmond, on Sunday a 19 year woman, Jamie Garr died of Hypothermia when she went outside late Saturday or early Sunday morning.
