Police say a drunk driver is to blame for a deadly crash in central Iowa this morning. A Boone man is facing charges that include vehicular homicide and third-offense OWI following the crash on Interstate 35.
Police say 45-year-old William Phipps was driving a pickup that slammed into the back of a car in the southbound lanes of I-35 near Ankeny at 6:20 a.m. A passenger in the car, 30-year-old Alexander Koch of Ankeny, died at the scene while the driver of the car was injured.
Police say Phipps ran from the scene but was captured by officers about a half mile away. Phipps was barred from driving because of his previous record.
ANKENY POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE:
Friday, June 10, 2016 at 6:20 a.m. Ankeny officers were sent to the southbound lanes of I-35 near the First Street exit ramp, mile marker 92.9, on a reported multi-vehicle accident. The crash resulted in one fatality and injury to another. Persons on scene of the accident reported that an individual involved in the accident fled the scene on foot.
Killed in the accident:
Alexander Koch DOB 6/16/86 age 30
353 NE Delaware
Ankeny, IA 50021
Injured in the accident was:
Zachary McMahon
3202 NE Edgewater
Ankeny, IA 50021
The investigation is on-going but preliminarily we know Zachary McMahon was driving a 2010 Subaru southbound on I-35. Alexander Koch was a passenger in the vehicle driven by McMahon which was struck in the rear by a drunk driver, William J. Phipps. Koch was later pronounced deceased at the scene by the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office. McMahon was treated at an area hospital for a variety of unknown injuries. Phipps was driving his 2011 Chevrolet Silverado which he abandoned and fled from the scene on foot.
William Joseph Phipps DOB 10-23-1970 age 45
1627 Division St.
Boone, IA 50036
Phipps was apprehended in the area of 18th & Delaware Avenue, approximately ½ mile from the scene of the accident. Phipps was barred from driving according to his record. Phipps was taken into custody by Ankeny police officers.
The investigation of the crash is ongoing. The following charges will be filed against William Joseph Phipps:
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Homicide by Vehicle-Operating Under the Influence-707.6A(1)-Class B Felony
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Homicide by Vehicle- Reckless Driving-707.6A(2)-Class C Felony
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Serious Injury by Vehicle- 707.6A (4)-Class D Felony
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Reckless Driving Causing Serious Injury- 707.6A(4)-Class D Felony
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Leaving the scene of Accident-Death- 321.261(4)-Class D Felony
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Operating While Intoxicated 3rd Offense- 321J.2(2)-Class D Felony
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Leaving the Scene of Accident- Serious Injury-321.261(3)-Aggravated Misdemeanor
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Driving While Barred-321.561-Aggravated Misdemeanor