Police: Man who died might have fallen or jumped from car

Police are investigating the death of a 25-year-old Coeur d’Alene man who suffered a fractured skull after apparently either falling or jumping from a moving vehicle early on Jan. 17. Timothy W. Shackelford was pronounced brain dead on Jan. 20, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department said in a news release. The Kootenai County Coroners office contacted police detectives Jan. 22 and reported Shackelford had suffered a fractured skull. Medical personnel removed him from life support on Jan. 23. The friends Shackelford was with the night he was found in the roadway near Fifth Street and Front Avenue told police Shackelford had possibly fallen from the vehicle or jumped while it was moving. They said they didn’t notice he was gone until a few minutes later. They told police they looked for him and couldn’t find him, so they went home. When medical personnel responded to the 911 call, apparently made by a motorist driving by at 2:29 a.m., they found no signs of trauma, the release said. Shackelford’s clothes were not disheveled, but he smelled strongly of alcohol. He was taken by ambulance to Kootenai Medical Center. Newspaper archives show a Timothy Shackelford attended Coeur d’Alene High School, where he wrestled and played football. Police are asking anyone with information to call (208) 769-2320.