(Spencer)– Charges have been filed against two people in connection with a crash on March 10th of this year that claimed the life of 19-year-old Cole Runyan of Cherokee.
The crash took place about two miles northwest of Ruthven. A subsequent investigation by the Iowa State Patrol found that Runyan had allegedly been drinking alcohol at a party at a residence in Emmetsburg prior to the crash. It resulted in multiple charges being filed against 20-year-old Jason Lee Jansma of Ellsworth, Minnesota and 20-year-old Sam Eli Metzger of Alvord.
Jansma was charged with five counts each of supplying alcohol to a minor; selling beer without a permit or license; and aiding and abetting joint criminal conduct–bootlegging. Jansma was also charged with two counts each of a minor in possession of alcohol and unlawful possession of a traffic sign; along with one count of maintaining an alcohol-related nuisance.
Metzger was charged with five counts each of supplying alcohol to a minor; selling beer without a permit or license and bootlegging. Metzger was also charged with two counts each of a minor in possession of alcohol and unlawful possession of a traffic sign, along with one count of maintaining an alcohol-related nuisance.
Jansma and Metzger recently appeared on the charges in Palo Alto County District Court.
In another case, a Sanborn man has been charged in connection with a personal injury crash involving a Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school bus that took place shortly before 7:30 a.m. May 19th. 18-year-old Jeremy Gibbons of Sanborn has been charged with operating while intoxicated, open container and failure to maintain control.
Through an investigation, the Iowa State Patrol determined that Gibbons had allegedly attended an alcohol party the previous night. That resulted in 18-year-old Michael Van Iperen of Hartley and his mother, 41-year-old Laurie Van Iperen, also of Hartley, being charged with supplying alcohol to minors and bootlegging.
Seven children were on the bus when Gibbons collided with the rear of it, while two others were about to board it.
