MAN CHOKES TO DEATH TRYING TO HIDE BAG OF DRUGS IN MOUTH

FORT WORTH, Texas -- A man changing a flat tire on his car choked to death
on a bag of marijuana he had stuffed down his throat in an apparent attempt
to hide it from police who stopped to help him, authorities said.

Nickolas Sandoval, 24, died Wednesday.

Officers were unaware at first that Mr. Sandoval had drugs when they spotted
him on the highway in Corinth, about 60 kilometres northeast of Fort Worth,
said Corinth police Cpl. Frank Lott.

"Officers went from 'Oh, hey, here is someone with a flat tire' to 'Hey,
this guy is choking,"' Cpl. Lott said.

Mr. Sandoval had previous convictions for drug possession.