Teen Pleads Not Guilty in Vehicular Homicide Case That Left Marion Woman Dead

Chase Goers, 17, of Cedar Rapids, has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of vehicular manslaughter following a head-on crash that left a Marion woman dead the weekend before Thanksgiving. 

Police say the teen was intoxicated and traveling the wrong way on Interstate 380 early on Nov. 18 when his vehicle collided head-on with the vehicle driven by Kelley McLaren, 25, of Marion.

A pretrial conference has been set for 10 a.m. May 23, and a jury trial has been set for 10 a.m. on June 3. Goers is being tried as an adult.

In another filing, Goers' public defender Sarah Marie Hradek was allowed to withdraw. 

Cedar Rapids police have not responded to questions about their investigation beyond what is stated in criminal complaints.

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.

McLaren died at the scene, and Goers was taken by helicopter to the hospital. 

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

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.

Read more:

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

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