'Boston Legal' actor Mentell dead at 27

[The Straight Story]

BLANCHARDVILLE, Wis., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Justin M. Mentell, an artist and actor who had a recurring role on TV's "Boston Legal," has died in a car crash in rural Wisconsin, police said. He was 27.

The Texas native played attorney Garrett Wells on the show, which ended its five-season run in 2008. His film credits include "G-Force" and "Roll Bounce."

The Madison Wisconsin State Journal said Mentell's body was discovered Monday morning outside his Jeep, down a steep embankment off Highway 39 in Iowa County north of Blanchardville after a passerby spotted the vehicle and called for help.

Police told the newspaper Mentell, an Illinois resident, had been driving alone and was not wearing a seat belt when his vehicle went off the road.

The actor, who was thrown from the Jeep, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, the Journal said.

http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2010/02/02/Boston-Legal-actor-Mentell-dead-at-27/UPI-34261265139418/

[hlthe2b]

1. Very young and sad...

I have to admit, though, I don't recall him on the show. May he RIP.

[JI7]

3. i think he was on just 1 season or even less

[Arctic Dave]

2. Bummer.

[RockaFowler]

4. How Sad

I remember him. He came on during the 2nd season when they went a little younger with the cast - it didn't work, though.

[gratuitous]

5. Please, please, please, assembled masses of DU

And, what the heck, even you lurking Freepers, buckle up every time you get in a motor vehicle. Every time. Even for short rides. Please.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

6. My father was a fireman

They were usually the first on the scene at accidents.

He dealt with lots of fatalities in his day, but he always said that he'd never had to cut a body out of a seat belt.

[elocs]

7. Yeah, it sure seems like if he was weating his seatbelt he wouldn't have been thrown from the Jeep.

Pretty sad, guess the trouble to belt up wasn't worth his life. The sad thing is that where I live some young person gets killed in a car accident after being thrown from the vehicle and killed. They never learn.