JASPER COUNTY, Iowa — A Grinnell teen faces multiple charges in connection to an August crash that killed a 17-year-old girl, the Jasper County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.
18-year-old Benjamin Kelne is charged with the following:
- Reckless driving
- Possession of alcohol while underage
- Careless driving
- Failure to maintain control
- Involuntary manslaughter
The charges come months after 17-year-old Chloe Hutchcraft suffered serious injuries in a rollover crash on Aug. 26, leading to her death.
According to a criminal complaint, Kelne called 911 to report he had been involved in a crash and Hutchcraft, the passenger in the car, was unresponsive.
When first responders arrived, Kelne told an officer he "lost control" of the car while driving too fast around a corner, according to the complaint. The officer said he smelled alcohol near Kelne and Hutchcroft, even though Kelne claimed he had not had anything to drink.
Kelne later consented to a breath test, indicating a BAC of 0.017, the criminal complaint says. The officer also notes alcohol was found in the car.
Both Kelne and Hutchcraft were taken to local hospitals, where Hutchcraft later died. The State Medical Examiner's Office ruled that Hutchcraft's death was caused by blunt force trauma, as she was not wearing a seat belt.
During the investigation, investigators used a search warrant to determine the car's speed at the time of the crash. Investigators also found messages Kelne sent to Hutchcraft's family, in which he allegedly stated he was driving recklessly.
Kelne's first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 5.