A Kansas City man accused in the drunk-driving death of his passenger in Buchanan County last week is being held without bond pending his first court appearance Tuesday.

Online court records indicate Rasheed Cottonham, 25, was charged Friday with second-degree assault for operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in injury, a Class-C felony.

The charges stem from a crash on U.S. 169 highway south of St Joseph on New Years Day that claimed the life of the passenger, Aaron Thomas, of Kansas City, Mo.

A judge on Friday denied bond. Online court records do not indicate if Mr. Cottonham has retained a lawyer.