Des Moines Motorcyclist's Death in 2016 Leads To Arrest

DES MOINES, IA. -- A Woodward man remains in Polk County Jail Tuesday morning without bond after being charged in the death of a motorcyclist last October. Jack Jay Janda, 67, was charged with on OWI-related vehicular homicide, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

Janda was jailed Monday following a nearly 11-month Iowa State Patrol investigation into the Oct. 29 crash between a truck and a motorcycle driven by Joseph Anthony Davis, 57, of Des Moines.

The crash happened in the 10300 of Polk City Drive. Davis died at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

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Witnesses told law enforcement officials at the time that two motorcycles were heading north on Polk City Drive in a construction area where traffic was funneled to one lane. They said the driver of a pickup truck attempted to pass the motorcycles at the end of the construction zone.

According to witnesses, Davis could not get in the proper lane as the pickup passed and was forced to lay his motorcycle down. He collided with a stopped southbound minivan.

Polk County Jail photo