Witnesses say a 17-year-old driver ran a red light and plowed into a motorcyclist at a busy intersection in Des Moines this morning. Forty-six-year-old James Miller of Des Moines died in the ambulance that was taking him from the scene of the accident to a hospital.
Des Moines Police Sergeant Vincent Valdez says Esther Chisala was involved in another hit-and-run before that fatal accident. "A car driven by a 17-year-old female struck the rear end of a van and continued on south towards the intersection of University and Martin Luther King," Valdez says. "Unfortunately, there was someone coming through the intersection from the east who did have the green light and this young lady struck that motorscooter."
Chisala has been charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. "After he was struck, (Chisala) continued on and struck a utility pole…The car became disabled," Valdez says. "A couple of witnesses ran to where she was at and held her until police came and arrested her." Chisala is also charged with failing to render aid.