A Washington state trooper checking out a van involved in a weekend collision missed something important inside -- a body.

A tow truck driver found the body of the van's driver hours later.

His brother says David King had called him to say his van broke down and he was going to sleep in the back.

Police later responded to a report of a car rear-ending a parked van on a highway. The trooper who did an inventory for valuables apparently didn't notice the man's body in a sleeping bag in the back.

An autopsy is being done to see if finding King earlier might have saved him.


copyright AP
Katie Allison Granju , Online Producer
Last updated: 6/7/2005 4:48:43 PM

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I bet that cop is wishin he were fishin right now. Not good.

Nice job, stupid cop! and to think we trust them to protect us... *twitches*

i dont think that the cop should be held accountable for that.. thats just clutching at straws

Cops are suppose to check the whole car... not just shine a flashlight in there and clear it!

I had a similar situation happen in Fort Myers Florida about 10 years ago. It did not involve a death but it involved an incomplete search by the local sheriff's department. I had a vehicle stolen. When it was recovered, in a very bad part of town, and towed to the impound yard the police were supposed to search it. When I was notified that my car had been found and where it was found I was assured that it had been searched and no illegal items had been recovered. When I arrived at the yard I searched the car myself and found the following in plain sight.
1 - A joint in the ash tray, ash tray open.
2 - 2 crack bags on the front floor.
3 - 1 spent shell casing for a 9mm in the drivers front door handle area.
So sometimes the police need to take a bit more time. If it is determined that this man may have been saved if the officer had found him during his initial search there will be hell to pay.

^ Kind of makes you wonder how some cops pass the exam...