(Algona)– The doctor who performed the autopsy on A-J Preston says the Ringsted teen was alive when he was hit by a vehicle on a farm lane near Fenton during the early morning of January first.
Delane Pederson of Burt is being tried in Kossuth County District Court for operating while intoxicated-vehicular homicide, an alternate charge of reckless driving-vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a death.
Doctor Dale Andres, Chief Pathologist of Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City testified Thursday the autopsy showed Preston was on his back when a vehicle ran over him. He says the condition of the injuries suggests the teen was alive when he was struck by a vehicle. Andres says the cause of death was massive head and brain injuries.
Nick Symonds of Burt entered guilty pleas last week to reckelss driving-vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in an injury. He testifed he left the party with Pederson and Pederson’s girlfriend, Alicia Elbert of Algona, as Elbert wasn’t feeling well. He said Pederson was driving when they felt a bump and the car got stuck on something. Symonds said Pederson drove the car back and forth before stopping. Symonds testified he then got behind the wheel while Pederson pushed the car. Symonds said he could see feet underneath the car as he switched seats. Symonds testifed he drove toward the end of the farm lane when Elbert told him to stop as they had run over someone. Symonds says Pederson didn’t say anything about stopping. Symonds says he refused to stop and drove to Burt. He said he parked the car in front of Pederson’s home, and walked home to get some sleep. Under cross examination, Symonds denied he was the only one driving the car from the farmhouse.
Testimony resumes Friday.
From Bob Jennings, KLGA, Algona.
