SHELL LAKE, Wis. (AP) — Washburn County authorities have identified a man who was fatally hit by a car last week as a National Guardsman returning from a comrade’s funeral.

The sheriff’s office said Thursday that 27-year-old David Talford of Mondovi died early Sept. 5 after running on a highway near Trego. Authorities say Talford and a friend were driving back from the funeral after drinking at several bars.

The friend tells authorities Talford had pulled over to take a nap because he was too intoxicated to drive. Authorities say it’s unclear why Talford got out of his car and was in the highway lane. Authorities say the crash was an accident.

WDIO-TV reports Talford served in the National Guard for eight years and had been deployed to Iraq.

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