(Algona)– A jury of six women and six men will hear the case of a Burt teen charged in the January first death of A-J Preston of Ringsted.
18-year-old Delane Pederson is charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated-vehicular homicide or alternate charges of; reckless driving-vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a death.
The jury for Pederson’s trial was sworn in late Tuesday afternoon. Opening statements will be made today (Wednesday).
The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office arrested Pederson and 19-year-old Nick Symonds of Burt in early January. The sheriff’s office alleges Pederson and Symonds were driving a car that hit Preston on a farm lane northeast Fenton during the early morning of January first. The sheriff’s office says the car dragged Preston 900 feet. According to the sheriff’s office, there was a party at the residence at the end of the lane.
Symonds pleaded guilty last week to wreckless driving-vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident causing injury. Symonds is scheduled to be sentenced November fifth. As part of the plea bargain, Symonds will testify in Pederson’s trial.
