Autopsy report says driver drunk at time of fatal crash

An autopsy report shows the 39-year-old driver in an August traffic accident that killed him and his teenage passenger had a blood-alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports James Ford Bowen of Paxico and his passenger, 16-year-old Matthew Robert Allen of Topeka, died of blunt force injuries.

Police say they were killed when the 2000 Toyota SUV Bowen was driving at 12:43 a.m. Aug. 4 hit an unoccupied 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked on a Topeka street.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene at 12:49 a.m. Bowen’s autopsy showed his blood-alcohol level was .177 when he died.

Bowen had been paroled three days earlier after serving time on four convictions for forgery and one for theft, all committed in 2006.