Autopsy shows Nebraska man died of exposure

Associated Press - November 25, 2009 8:45 AM ET

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - Authorities say exposure killed a Gering man whose body was found by a jogger in Scottsbluff.

John Childress is deputy Scotts Bluff County attorney. He said Tuesday that it could be a month before toxicology reports are back from the autopsy of 49-year-old Shawn O'Donahue.

Childress says that until the results are in, police won't know for sure whether O'Donahue had been drinking alcohol or had taken drugs.

Investigators say O'Donahue was speeding north on a Scottsbluff street late Sunday or early Monday morning when he missed a turn. His car left the roadway and landed in a retention pond.

O'Donahue got out of his car and managed to reach the road before he collapsed. His body was found by the jogger about 6:45 a.m. on Monday.

Information from: Star-Herald, http://www.starherald.com