Hit-N-Run in Des Moines ends in peaceful arrest
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 335
Wednesday afternoon on Park Ave. around 5:30, a motorcyclist was killed in a hit and run by a SUV, according to channel 13 news source. After filling up the Ford Explorer SUV at the Casey’s General Store at 4331 Park Ave with $27 worth of gas, Santos Vidal Rodriguez, the 26 year old driver, with 23 year old brother, Orlando David Rodriguez, drove away from the gas station without paying, and hit the motorcyclist east on Park Ave. The motorcyclist was Bruce James Mundy, age 49, a father of two who lived in Adel, and a 30-year military veteran, according to the Des Moines Register. Mundy was wearing a helmet while riding his vehicle but died at the local hospital he was brought to, said the Des Moines Register.
The two Rodriquez’s ran from the scene of the accident but were later caught. Surveillance tapes from Casey’s, which captured the accident, are aiding police in the investigation. They are faced with second-degree robbery charges and many traffic-related charges from the crash, though have not been charged yet, according to the Des Moines Register.
This accident has brought to the forefront the 1999 shootout near Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Forest Avenue, between police and Santos Vidal Rodriguez, the driver in this current case. The shootout began after Rodriguez’s car was pulled over for suspect in a robbery earlier in the day. Police Officer Jeffrey Gowen and Sgt. Garey Bryan II who were involved in the shootout were wounded and the then 16 year old Rodriguez “lost a leg and had brain damage”, reports the Des Moines Register. Rodriguez was never tried for this offense because “Polk County prosecutors believed his injuries made him incompetent to stand trial” and would never fully recover.
After this incident on Wednesday, Santos Rodriguez was interviewed by police and said he was fully coherent.
Watch a clip from the Des Moines Register of the accident, and interview of police officer, Sgt. Lori Lavorato:
http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-desmoines-150-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=1274639317