Testimony begins in vehicular homicide trial

    The trial of Andrew Tyler Brock is now under way. Brock, 19, of Washington, is charged with three counts of vehicular homicide in connection to a three-vehicle collision on May 23, 2009, in which three people died. The jury was selected early Monday afternoon, after which the prosecution and defense delivered their opening statements.

    Assistant Attorney General Laura Roan laid out what the prosecution would attempt to prove. She said the prosecution will show that Brock was ?in a hurry? while driving his pickup northbound on Lexington Boulevard. Brock and a group of friends were headed from Washington to Lake Belva Deer near Sigourney. Brock drove one of three vehicles that were going to Lake Belva Deer that afternoon. Roan said that Brock took Lexington Boulevard because it was the fastest way to get there, and because he wanted to beat the other two cars to their destination.

    When Brock approached the intersection with Highway 92, Roan said he ?either didn?t stop or couldn?t stop,? and struck an eastbound vehicle containing Samuel Langstaff and Jacqueline Langstaff, a couple from Indianola. The collision pushed the Langstaffs? vehicle into the westbound lane, and was struck by a semi driven by Jared Freel. The Langstaffs? vehicle rolled over onto its top and caught fire as it lay in the north ditch. Both Samuel and Jacqueline Langstaff were killed, as was the front seat passenger in Brock?s vehicle, Travis Filben.

    Defense Attorney Doug Tindal said the brakes on Brock?s pickup are a major issue in the case. Tindal also said that the state let a key piece of evidence go ? Brock?s truck, which was compacted after the collision.

    ?If the brakes failed, and the defendant didn?t know that, that is an important factor,? said Tindal.

    After opening remarks, the prosecution called its first witness, Brad Sheetz. Sheetz farms northwest of Washington. Sheetz was driving south on Lexington Boulevard that afternoon when he met another vehicle near the intersection with 230th Street. He testified that the vehicle was coming at him very fast. He slowed down and got over to the extreme western edge of the road. He said the other vehicle didn?t appear as though it would slow down or share the road with him.

    When the oncoming car was about 10 to 20 yards away, Sheetz grabbed his steering wheel and ducked his head. He said he thought his windshield would break from the gravel the other car was kicking up. He estimated that the car was traveling 70 miles per hour.

    Assistant Attorney General Andrew Prosser asked Sheetz a few questions about the roads in the area. North of its intersection with 230th Street, Lexington Boulevard meets Larch Avenue. To stay on Lexington, a motorist must make a 90-degree turn at the intersection. Prosser asked Sheetz if he thought a vehicle could make that turn going at the speed of the vehicle Sheetz just testified about. Sheetz said no, and that it would be a stretch to take that corner at even 15 mph.     

    Sheetz continued his narration of what occurred later that afternoon. Once he arrived at Pioneer Seed Company in Washington, he heard sirens. He saw smoke in the distance, northwest of town. He feared the sirens were for a fire he had set earlier that day when he burnt a pile of seed bags.

For the full story, see the March 8 edition of The Washington Evening Journal