Authorities trying to ID remains from fiery crash

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Authorities are awaiting dental records to confirm a Broseley, Mo., man died in a fiery crash early Saturday morning on Highway 142.

At this time, Butler County Coroner Jim Akers said, he has been in contact with the family of the victim, Terry L. Ethridge Jr., 20.

"I'm attempting to locate dental records to do a positive identification," Akers said. "We are certain it is Mr. Ethridge; however, we want that medical certainty that dental records would provide."

"They are helping me in locating which dentist he may have used; hopefully, this will be successful," said Akers, who pronounced Ethridge dead at 3:45 a.m.

The crash occurred about 2 a.m. on Highway 142, south of the Highway 158 intersection.

"Originally it was a fire department call for something burning, and when the Butler County Fire Department responded, they notified the [Missouri State] Highway Patrol it was a vehicle," said Patrol Trooper N.L. Wheeles.

Trooper Corey Tucker investigated the one-vehicle crash, which occurred as Ethridge was driving a 1998 Ford southbound and it ran off the roadway, struck a tree and caught fire.

Ethridge's car was badly burned, but officers were able to read the license plate number, which came back to Ethridge, Akers said.

"The make and model of the car were the same as what Terry Ethridge owned, and he had not been located," Akers said.