A drunk driver has been charged in the death of an Edgecombe County, North Carolina Sheriff's deputy earlier this month.

Deputy David Manning died March 11 after his cruiser crashed while pursuing a vehicle on NC-111 aout three miles south of Tarboro, according to WITN-TV.

Richard Walters was charged by state troopers with DWI, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Manning spotted the 33-year-old's vehicle and turned around to pursue him when he crashed his cruiser head-on into another vehicle.

Walters crashed his vehicle about two-tenths of a mile from the scene and ran away.

"We obtained evidence that Walters purchased and consumed the equivalent of 16 malt beverages before driving away from Melanie's Place," Special Agent in Charge of ALE's Greenville district Eric Swain said. "Even though Walters was in an intoxicated state, he was served malt beverages until the bar closed."

Alcohol Law Enforcement agents charged the bar owner and another employee in the case as well.

Authorities said that employee Cindy Mendenhall helped jump-start Walters' vehicle because of a dead battery, and that she and owner Melanie Johnson tried to minimize how intoxicated the man was.

Mendenhall was charged with obstruction of justice, sale to intoxicated, and aid and abet DWI. Johnson is facing charges of obstruction of justice and allowing a violation to occur.