Alvarado climbed through the sunroof onto the top of the vehicle and fell from it, according to reports from the highway patrol. The incident occurred around 12:05 a.m. Saturday.

Reports say that Alvarado was on top of the vehicle when the car drove around a curve. The vehicle came to a rest on the roadway after Alvarado fell, says the report.

The driver of the vehicle was Donald Edwards, age 18. Another passenger, Toby Blodgett, age 43, was also in the vehicle.

Alvarado is survived by his wife, Mary, a daughter and son, his father, Walter Short of Elizabeth City, and mother, Linda Short of Mill Spring, three sisters and a brother.

The family will receive friends tomorrow from 4 to 5 p.m. with a service following at Crowe&squo;s Mortuary in Rutherfordton.

Alvarado worked in construction