Personal Injury Law

Investigating the rollover accident in Johnson County, Iowa.

By Steve Lombardi

On March 14^th 2009 Lisa Marie Adams (17), Joseph Daniel Widmer (18), and Brendt Michael Fetzer were headed Westbound on 340^th and lost control entering the South ditch and rolled. Lisa Marie Adams died from the resulting injuries, while Joseph was taken by Aircare to the hospital. An investigation is ongoing. No indication if Adams was wearing a seatbelt.

The time of the crash was 2:55 A.M. at 340TH ST W OF HALF MOON AVE in Johnson County. Eighteen year old Joseph Widmer was taken by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

The investigation will likely focus on the toxicology analysis conducted on the decedent, Lisa Adams. First they will examine her blood alcohol content to determine if she had been drinking and was legally intoxicated. The officers have likely interviewed the other passengers to determine where they had been and were heading. Also the contents of the vehicle will be examined to determine if there are any clues that will help explain things. Are there liquor bottles or store receipts with times and contents purchased? Empty, open and full bottles can often time give clues. Drugs in the vehicle can correlate with blood analysis. Measurements of the tread depth on each tire will be made and along with road surface and weather conditions will be correlated for friction factors. The crush depth of the car, skid mark lengths and impact will be examined to determine speed of the vehicle. The speedometer will be looked at and photographed to see if it stopped on any speed.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on April 12, 2009 (boomark / email).