Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 17, 1993 TAG: 9303170238
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BURN VICTIM FACING DUI CHARGES
A man who was drinking shortly before he set himself on fire in Franklin County on Friday had been charged with driving under the influence two times this month.William Bruce Sowers, 47, was awaiting trial on the two charges, one in Franklin County and the other in Christianburg.
He also was charged with assaulting Christiansburg Police Officer D.L. Reid and tearing his shirt and tie during a March 2 encounter.
Sowers remained in critical condition Tuesday in the University of Virginia Hospital burn center, where he was being treated for second-degree burns to his hands and stomach and third-degree burns to his head and face.
Sheriff's investigators said he doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire in the yard of the Boones Mill home of Wilford and Martha Spangler. The Spanglers, with whom he had been staying, said they didn't believe Sowers burned himself intentionally.
Christiansburg Police Chief Ron Lemons said Reid stopped Sowers along Roanoke Street shortly after 7 p.m. on March 2.
"Initially, he was fine," Reid said. "Then he was combative."
After the altercation with Reid, Sowers was charged with DUI, assaulting an officer and destruction of property.
The second DUI charge came March 9 in Franklin County, after dispatchers received a report of someone driving north in the southbound lane of U.S. 220.
Sheriff's deputies found a car matching the description wrecked on Virginia 691 near Boones Mill Elementary School.
Trooper James Semones said he walked up to the car and found Sowers sitting behind the wheel.
"He had cut his lip," Semones said. "He told me he wanted me to take him to the hospital."
Semones also charged him with driving under the influence.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.