Felony Charges Filed Against Teen Involved in I-380 Crash That Left Marion Woman Dead

A Cedar Rapids teen was intoxicated and traveling the wrong way on Interstate 380 when his vehicle collided head-on with a Marion woman's vehicle in November, police say.

Nearly two months later Chase Goers, 17, of Cedar Rapids has been charged with two felonies for the crash that killed Kelley McLaren, 25, of Marion.

Police have charged Goers with two counts of vehicular homicide, for operating under the influence of alcohol and for driving in a reckless manner, the Gazette reports citing a criminal complaint. His blood alcohol level was .154 percent, which is nearly twice the legal limit for driving, the report stated.

Cedar Rapids Police submitted the case against Goers, with charges recommended, to the Linn County Attorney's office for review no later than December 10.

Goes was not charged immediately because he was hospitalized with injuries from the collision and the police needed time to complete their investigation, Linn County Attorney Jerry A. Vander Sanden said in an email.

The attorney's office filed the case in juvenile court back in December when the case was referred from Cedar Rapids Police Department, but Goers was at-large and the authorities had to locate him so he could be taken into custody on the charges, Vander Sanden said.

The more serious penalty is vehicular homicide for operating while intoxicated, which is a Class B felony and carries a mandatory prison term of 25 years. The second charge for reckless driving is a Class C felony and carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Early in the morning on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 18, police responded to a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 380 just south of Cedar Rapids. McLaren was heading northbound, while Goers was heading southbound in the same northbound lane. The vehicles collided head-on with both vehicles sustaining heavy damage, according to police.

Goers was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Cedar Rapids police said he survived, but did not have any update on his condition.

Read more:

Fatal Car Accident Update: Charges Possible as Police Turn Case Over to Linn County Attorney

Still No Answers as Police Continue Investigation of Car Accident That Left Marion Woman Dead

Marion Woman Identified as Victim in Fatal Crash on Interstate 380