A 31-year-old Hutchinson man killed in a one vehicle accident just before 11 p-m Thursday evening had been in Reno County District Court earlier in the day where he had been bound over for trial on a charge of aggravated battery, battery, criminal threat and criminal damage to property.

Whether that played a role in the tragic accident which killed George Weber, no one will ever know for sure. But, Hutchinson Police do say that alcohol and high speed played a role in the accident.

Police say Weber was eastbound on 4th at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the Jeep Cherokee he was driving. The vehicle left the roadway, hit a tree, then burst into flames, this in the 1700 block of East 4th.

Witnesses were able to pull Weber from the vehicle and began CPR. He was then transported by Reno County E-M-S to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Police reported that alcohol containers were found inside the vehicle and there were reports that Weber had been spotted inside a liquor store earlier in the evening.

The aggravated battery case against Weber is over an incident with a Hutchinson woman back on December 14, 2011.

The state had added the fourth count of criminal threat following the hearing in front of Judge Joe McCarville.