Redmond PD: Stuck car caught fire; man died from smoke

A 21-year-old Redmond man died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning late Friday after the car he borrowed got stuck in the snow and caught fire as he slept or rested in the back seat, police investigators said Wednesday.

Police released the results of their extensive investigation into the death of Samuel Villa that also involved Redmond firefighters, the Oregon State Police Crime Lab and arson investigator, Deschutes County and state medical examiners and the county district attorney’s office;

Here’s how the news release laid out the details of what is believed to have taken place:

On 11-14-201, at approximately 11:00 PM, Redmond Fire & Rescue along with the Redmond Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire on NW 21 st , between NW Larch and NW Kilnwood Place. During the course of extinguishing the fire a deceased person was discovered in the back seat area of the vehicle.

The investigation revealed that Samuel Villa had been driving a 2000 Plymouth Breeze, belonging to a family member. Samuel Villa had gotten the vehicle stuck on the heavy snow covered roadway on NW Larch at approximately 9:30 PM, near NW 19 th Street.

A resident at that location assisted Samuel Villa for approximately 45 minutes in an attempt to get his vehicle unstuck. This resident said that Samuel Villa was alone with the car, and had identified himself to the resident as Sam.

Samuel Villa reportedly got the vehicle stuck about two more times while the resident was attempting to assist him. The resident reported that Sam was extremely intoxicated and angry about being stuck.

Villa was reportedly revving the engine of his vehicle to “max” in an attempt to get the vehicle unstuck. Between approximately 10:15 PM and 10:30 PM, the vehicle continued west bound on NW Larch toward NW 21 st .

The investigation revealed that the vehicle continued onto NW 21 st between NW Larch and NW Kilnwood Pl. where it got stuck in the snow again. The investigation revealed that a fire started in the left front area of the engine compartment. It is believed the fire was caused due to the high revving of the engine, heated-up transmission fluids, and a transmission fluid leak. The keys were still in the ignition, and in the on position at the time of the fire.

It is believed Samuel Villa climbed in the back seat of the vehicle to rest or sleep, and had left the engine running in order to run the vehicle heater, in order to stay warm.

An autopsy was conducted on Tuesday at the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office in Clackamas. The preliminary results of the autopsy indicate that Samuel Villa was alive at the time of the fire, and had died due to smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

There were no signs of trauma to Samuel Villa’s body, and no indications at this point that his death was anything other than accidental.

The Redmond Police Department vision is to make Redmond the safest community in Oregon by conducting thorough investigations. It is imperative that each case be thoroughly investigated in order to obtain correct and accurate information before divulging this information to the public. We do this for the integrity of the investigation, respect for the victim and victim’s family and for the safety of the community. The Redmond Police Department appreciates the public assistance with this investigation.”

The death was one of two involving young Redmond-area people over the weekend. Police had said the two incidents were unrelated and there was no danger or risk to the public.

The death of Jamie Garr, 19, in a dry canal behind Timber’s Bar and Grill also has been declared accident, due to hypothermia and exposure.

We’ll have more on these developments on NewsChannel 21 tonight.