A recent, fatal accident has the Iowa State Patrol asking drivers for help in locating a semi that fled the scene.
Around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, near the 238-mile marker on Interstate 80 going westbound, an unidentified semi truck hit and killed Rolando Calderon-Yescas. Calderon-Yescas was standing at the passenger side of his vehicle, with other occupants in the truck asleep at the time. The semi struck both Calderon-Yescas and his vehicle.The impact killed him instantly, and the semi left the scene. Because the passengers of his truck were asleep, they stated they were unable to give a description of the semi. Due to the nature of the impact, there should be visible damage on the front right of the truck.
The Iowa State Patrol is asking anyone in the area for any information they may find. Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime.
Iowa law makes it a duty to stop and render assistance following an accident. The relevant code reads:
2. If the accident causes the death of a person, all surviving drivers shall remain at the scene of the accident except to seek necessary aid or to report the accident to law enforcement authorities. Before leaving the scene of the fatal accident, each surviving driver shall leave the surviving driver’s driver’s license, automobile registration receipt, or other identification data at the scene of the accident. After leaving the scene of the accident, a surviving driver shall promptly report the accident to law enforcement authorities, and shall immediately return to the scene of the accident or inform the law enforcement authorities where the surviving driver can be located.
According to Iowa statute, failure to comply with the above will result in being charged with a Class D felony, which is punishable by 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $7500. This is not to include any civil charges such as wrongful death that may be brought by the victim’s family against the driver of the semi, if caught.
If you know anything, please contact your local authorities.
