Missouri Man Arrested by Highway Patrol Dies at Hospital

Authorities suspect that a central Missouri man who became sick and died after he was arrested had ingested methamphetamine.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that 21-year-old William S. Westfall, of Eugene, died Thursday at a hospital. Patrol Sgt. Scott White said in a news release that he was driving a vehicle that was stopped Wednesday near Eugene in Cole County.

White says Westfall and three others were found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine and taken into custody. They were being taken to the Cole County Jail when a trooper said Westfall started to experience physical and mental distress. He was taken to a hospital.

White says a preliminary investigation revealed Westfall might have ingested an unknown amount of methamphetamine. Westfall's passengers are jailed on drug charges.