KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Police said a car they believe was used in a double fatal hit-and-run crash was accidentally destroyed, KMBC's Bev Chapman reported Monday.

Last week, Scott Weber, 24, of Independence, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of two pedestrians in the 5900 block of Independence Ave. last September.

Investigators said DNA evidence from a damaged 1992 Ford Tempo led police to Weber. Detectives found hair in the broken windshield and blood on the front end of the car.

"Evidence collected off the vehicle matched the people who were killed," said Kansas City Police Capt. Rich Lockhart.

KMBC reported that the Tempo was mistakenly released by a former employee who ran the city's tow lot. Then, the car was sold for scrap and apparently was crushed.

"We found out just last week, after charges were filed, the vehicle had already been sold," Lockhart said.

Police said they had placed a hold on the car when it was impounded in September. The tow lot released the hold in October without notifying police, officials said. The car was sold to a crushed metal dealer in November.

Court records show that Weber admitted he took a muscle relaxant and drank more than a half-pint of bourbon on the night of the crash.

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said that although they would prefer to have the car, investigators have enough evidence to proceed with charges against Weber.

Lockhart said police have checked with the tow lot to make sure holds remain in place on cars needed in upcoming cases.

The former employee who released the Tempo resigned in January after being arrested for allegedly driving drunk in a city-owned car, officials said.