Vehicular homicide charges filed after Des Moines man killed by out of control driver

DES MOINES, IOWA — A 23-year-old Des Moines man is charged with vehicular homicide and a list of other offenses after he allegedly killed a pedestrian and struck two other vehicles as he careened out of control across the south side of town on Sunday.

According to police, the deadly chain of events began around 11:30 am in the 1000 block of SE Army Post Road when Andi Gael Cardenas struck another vehicle. Instead of stopping, Cardenas allegedly sped away the crash – continuing eastbound on Army Post Road then turning north on SE 5th Street. Police say Cardenas ran a red light and struck another vehicle SE 5th and Porter Avenue. Cardenas lost control of his vehicle after this second crash and left the road, hitting two trees before fatally striking a pedestrian who was walking southbound on SE 5th Street.

The name of the pedestrian killed in the crash has not been released. Police are identifying him only as a 51-year-old Des Moines resident.

Cardenas is charged with Vehicular Homicide as well as a growing list of other violations. Police are still awaiting toxicology reports to determine if impairment was a factor in the crash. The full list of charges as of Monday morning includes:

• Homicide by Vehicle
• Reckless Driving
• Leaving the Scene of an accident
• Improper lane change
• Unsafe entry on sidewalk
• Failure to obey traffic control device

Cardenas is being held without bond in the Polk County Jail.

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