A Norman developer, Jerl Methvin, will face charges of causing a fatal accident July 21 that killed a woman passenger in Methvin's Corvette.

Methvin, 50, was charged Monday in Cleveland County District Court with first-degree manslaughter.

Police said Methvin was traveling at speeds of more than 100 mph in a 45 mph zone on SE 104th and Triple X Road in southeast Oklahoma City, when his car failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway and struck a sign. The impact caused the car to rotate, striking a wooden electrical pole on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Candy Dubiel, 37, a passenger in the Corvette, died at the scene.

Police said Methvin was driving while impaired. He was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on complaints of manslaughter, drunken driving and reckless driving following the accident, police said.

According to previous reports and court records, Methvin was charged April 5, 2007, with funneling campaign contributions in excess of $5,000 to Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart in July 2004. Methvin entered a no contest plea and was given a six-month deferred sentence after agreeing to testify against Rinehart. Methvin's case was dismissed April 6, 2007.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com