Daily Reporter Staff
Assistant Clay County Attorney Chuck Borth said a Class B felony charge of vehicular homicide will be filed against a Spencer man involved in a fatal crash.
The Spencer Police Department responded to a hit-and-run crash at 7:16 p.m. Monday involving a sports utility vehicle, which rear-ended a motorcycle as both vehicles were traveling east on U.S. Highway 18 near the area of Del's Garden Center.
Both riders were thrown from the motorcycle and were transported to the Spencer Hospital by ambulance. They were later transported by emergency helicopter to a trauma center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The driver, 30-year-old Brian Beck of Spencer, passed away at about 4 p.m. Wednesday from injuries sustained in Monday night's crash.
The SUV continued east and left the scene. It was located a short time later at the Country Villa Trailer Court just south of Spencer. Investigation by officers resulted in the arrest of 57-year-old James Prather of Spencer.
Prather initially was charged with operating while intoxicated and improper passing. He was placed in the Clay County Jail.
"It will change and I anticipate there will be an additional charge filed against the defendant of homicide by motor vehicle, which is a Class B felony," Borth said.
Spencer Police Chief Mark Lawson said the office did not have any additional information about the passenger on the motorcycle, 19-year-old Krystal Plagman of Marathon.
The Spencer Police Department was assisted by the Clay County Sheriffs Office, Iowa State Patrol, Spencer Fire Department, and Spencer Ambulance personnel.
Comments
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I will never understand why there is a lesser charge associated with killing someone under the influence. Is there really anyone on the face of the planet that does not realize the consequences? If the choose to ignore those consequences and drive drunk anyway is this not premeditated and therefore should it not be considered murder? And attempted murder for the passenger? Is it any wonder this country is in the shape it is in with the legal system so messed up. I just hope that there is some justice here instead of the slap on the wrist and a short jaunt in treatment that so many drunk murderers get from our legal system.
I will pray for justice and for peace for the family. This man killed a father and a son. I hope he understands the impact of what he has done.
-- Posted by john sinclair on Thu, Aug 7, 2008, at 6:22 PM
I am absolutely horrified at what kind of pain this man has caused to the Beck family...Does this man reallize He has taken away a FATHER, HUSBAND, SON,FRIEND......Brian was such and young man with a full life ahead of him...But one man took that away from him with choosing to DRINK AND DRIVE..I really hope Mr.Prather gets a very long time to sit and think about the life he has taken away from so many...I am praying for the Beck family hoping that one day the pain will ease and somehow they will be able to go on....
-- Posted by cenex51301 on Thu, Aug 7, 2008, at 2:39 PM
This is so sad it happen to them kids ,Brian Beck
and Krystal Plagman. Its another story of a drunk on are streets.__________ James Prather i hope you have a long long memory of the damage you have caused them i even hope you get pictures that will haunt you the rest of your life.____
I hope the judge puts you away for a very long time ....To the family's of Brian Beck my prayers are with you and to the family of Krystal Plagman god is with her keep the faith she will be okay
-- Posted by violet_51301 on Thu, Aug 7, 2008, at 8:26 AM
