Trooper D.L. Edwards said he was notified of the death of 46-year-old Jeffrey Robert Koch of Emporia last week.
According to his investigation, Edwards determined that Koch was a passenger in a Jeep driven by 19-year-old Cody Pearson, who died at the scene. A hunter discovered the Jeep in a field around 4:30 a.m. on September 13.
Edwards said while he is still waiting on a toxicology report, his initial assessment is that speed, careless and reckless driving and possible alcohol use played a factor in the single-vehicle crash.
