Local Accident News

A tragic accident claimed the life of a tow truck driver who was assisting another vehicle on the shoulder of Interstate 80 in Urbandale on Sunday night. The Iowa State Patrol said the crash was caused by a drunk tractor-trailer driver who failed to move over for the emergency vehicles. The victim was identified as Joshua Villa, 45, of Adel. He was towing a vehicle that had been involved in a previous crash on the right shoulder of westbound Interstate 80. An Urbandale police officer and a Highway Helper were also on the scene, and a sign was displayed to direct all traffic to move left. However, around 10 p.m., a tractor-trailer driven by Dmytro Prysich, 54, of Hamtramck, Michigan, did not heed the sign and did not stay in his lane. He crashed his tractor-trailer into the tow truck, killing Villa on the spot. Prysich was arrested after he showed signs of impairment and failed a breath test. His blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit. He was charged with homicide by vehicle-OWI, leaving the scene of a deadly accident, and failure to change lane upon approach to emergency stationary vehicles – death. He was taken to the Polk County Jail.