Charges have been filed in connection with a car crash in Des Moines this summer that killed a young woman from Newton. Twenty-year-old Jennifer Poli died from her injuries a couple weeks after her car slammed into a power pole on July 16.
Des Moines Police Sergeant Jeff Edwards says toxicology tests show Poli was driving drunk. Her blood alcohol level was 0.19%, twice the legal limit. Investigators determined 22-year-old Silvia Fouch of Johnston purchased and supplied alcohol to Poli on the night of the crash.
“We had to interview a lot of people, it was a pretty lengthy investigation, trying to track down where Jennifer acquired the alcohol that ultimately resulted in her death,” Edwards said. Fouch is charged with supplying alcohol to a minor resulting in death. It’s a Class D Felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Witnesses reported Poli was driving at least 90 miles an hour when her car hit the pole, flipped several times and burst into flames.
“This was an extremely violent accident,” Edwards said. “The motor from the Mitsubishi that Jennifer was driving became dislodged and flew across a parking lot and struck a parked car.”
The crash happened shortly before 2 a.m. on July 16 on Des Moines’ northeast side. Fouch is being held in the Polk County Jail on $50,000 bond.