DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines police have arrested a suspect following a deadly accident involving a pedestrian Sunday morning.
23-year-old Andi Gael Cardenas of Des Moines faces the following charges:
- Homicide by Motor Vehicle — Reckless Driving
- Homicide by Vehicle — OWI
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident
- Multiple simple misdemeanor traffic offenses
"Lab results, following a search warrant served during the initial crash investigation, indicate that Cardenas' blood alcohol content was greater than two the legal limit of .08," DMPD said.
Officers and fire personnel responded to SE 5th Street around 11:40 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a crash.
When they arrived, first responders found a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado had left the road, striking a tree and a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, 51-year-old Jose Manuel Clark, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police believe Cardenas was involved in two separate crashes prior to hitting Clark. First, Cardenas crashed on SE Army Post Road, damaging nearby property. He then continued north, running a red light at SE 5th Street and Porter Avenue and striking another car.
Cardenas then allegedly lost control of his car and left the road, colliding with two trees and striking Clark, who was on the sidewalk.
Police say investigators are awaiting lab results to determine if Cardenas was impaired at the time of the crash.
Cardenas is currently being held at Polk County Jail.
This is Des Moines' eighth traffic-related death of 2024, and the second involving a pedestrian.
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