DES MOINES, Iowa — A Polk County jury has convicted a Michigan man for the November 2023 death of a local tow-truck driver.
55-year-old Dmytro Prysich of Hamtrack, Michigan was found guilty of vehicular homicide while under the influence, but was acquitted of leaving the scene of an accident.
The conviction comes nearly a year after Prysich struck 45-year-old Joshua Villa with a semi-truck while Villa was loading a car onto a tow truck.
Villa, who lived in Adel, was legally parked on the shoulder of Interstate 80 at the time of the crash. An Urbandale police officer and an Iowa Department of Transportation Highway Helper were also at the scene.
Evidence indicated Prysich "failed to move over or slow down" for emergency vehicles prior to striking Villa. The Urbandale police officer reported Prysich did not stop after he hit Villa.
Prysich was arrested by Clive police shortly after the accident. Blood tests showed he had an alcohol level of 0.196.
Prysich faces up to 25 years in prison, and his sentencing is set for Dec. 10.