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Autopsy: Alcohol involved in death of woman found in Raleigh street

A woman who died after being found unconscious in a Raleigh street in December had enough alcohol in her system to be impaired, according to an autopsy result released Tuesday.

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Tempie Kerr, found dead in Raleigh street
RALEIGH, N.C. — A woman who died after being found unconscious in a Raleigh street in December had enough alcohol in her system to be impaired, according to an autopsy result released Tuesday.

A passing driver found Tempie Kitchin Kerr, 34, of Raleigh, lying face-down on St. Mary's Street near the Glenwood Avenue intersection on Dec. 28. She died the following day.

Investigators initially thought Kerr was a pedestrian who had been hit by a car, but police later said there was no evidence of of a hit-and-run.

Kerr's boyfriend, Chadwick Ryan Whichard, told police that he and Kerr were arguing and that she jumped out of the car as it was moving and hit her head.

Whichard, 36, of 2415 Glenwood Ave., was charged with driving while impaired.

An autopsy determined Kerr died of blunt force injuries to her head. Toxicology results showed she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent shortly after she was found in the street, and the medical examiner said that was likely a contributing factor in her death.

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