A Hardeeville man died after apparently swallowing bags of cocaine following a traffic stop in Effingham County, Georgia last week.
Kelly Anderson, 41, of Hardeeville, died Saturday night at Memorial University Medical Center, Effingham County sheriff's spokesman David Ehsanipoor said.
Anderson was a passenger in a Ford Ranger stopped by an Effingham County deputy on Interstate 95 for an equipment violation about 12:30 a.m. Feb. 18, Ehsanipoor said.
"Anderson was taken into custody for possession of cocaine and drug related objects, including a digital scale," Ehsanipoor said. "He had an unknown amount of cocaine on his person and a large amount of cash."
The Effingham County deputy noticed Anderson acting strangely and putting something in his mouth while transporting him to the Effingham County Jail, Ehsanipoor said.
"The deputy immediately pulled over at Interstate 95 and Ga. 21 and called for EMTs," Ehsanipoor said.
EMTs and the deputy struggled with Anderson and managed to remove one bag of cocaine from his mouth, deputies reported.
Anderson was then transported to Memorial University Medical Center, where he was released back into the sheriff's office custody, Ehsanipoor said.
Anderson was taken back to the Effingham County jail. During the booking process, he developed medical problems and became unresponsive. Anderson was taken back to the Savannah hospital, where he later died, Ehsanipoor said.
The Effingham County sheriff's office has asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to conduct a death investigation due to Anderson becoming ill while in the sheriff's office custody.
No charges were filed against the driver of the vehicle