ST. JOSEPH – The driver involved in the fatal New Year’s Day crash in Buchanan County was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota Corolla driven by Rasheed A. Cottonham, 24, Kansas City, was northbound on U.S. 169 four miles south of St. Joseph just before 8 a.m.

The Toyota traveled off the left side of the road.  Cottonham  overcorrected and the vehicle traveled off the right side of the road, overturned, went through a fence and came to rest in a pasture.

A passenger in the vehicle Aaron R. Thomas, 24, Kansas City, died in the crash. Cottonham suffered moderate injuries and was treated at Mosaic Life Care.