A judge in western Iowa has charged a Harrison County man with vehicle homicide in connection with an incident late last summer. On Friday, a Pottawattamie County judge sentenced 37-year-old Robert Eugene Martin of Magnolia to 25years in prison for the death of 75-year-old Ralph Matthews.
Authorities say Matthews was working in a ditch along his property line August 27th, when he was struck by Martin’s vehicle as it went out of control on Old Lincoln Highway.
Martin left the scene of the accident. A motorist spotted Matthews lying in the ditch and called 9-1-1. He later died at an area hospital. Acting on tips from firefighters and Martins’ neighbors a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputy found Martin in Crescent and took him to a hospital, where he tested twice the legal limit for blood alcohol in the state of Iowa.
Martin was charged with homicide by vehicle, leaving the scene, and driving while revoked. His sentencing date is set for March 26.