Sheldon, Iowa — A Sheldon man involved in a fatal ATV wreck in 2016 is now facing felony charges in connection with the crash.
According to court documents, 27-year-old Garrett Crowl is charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle. The first count is vehicular homicide related to alleged operating while intoxicated, and according to Iowa Code, is a class B felony. The other count is vehicular homicide related to alleged reckless driving, which the code says is a class C felony.
The O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office reports that about 6:50 PM on Saturday evening, July 30, 2016, they received a 911 call of a report of a 4-wheeler accident at the farm located at 3066 McKinley Avenue.
At the time, witnesses reported seeing the ATV traveling at a fairly high rate of speed when it entered a curve in the road, and Crowl lost control on the gravel and slid sideways. It appeared the 4-wheeler then rolled sideways and struck a tree, according to witnesses.
Crowl and his passenger on the ATV, 25-year-old Shaleah Donavon of Sheldon, both sustained serious injuries and were both taken to Sanford Sheldon Hospital. Donavon died at the hospital and Crowl was taken to a Sioux Falls hospital by helicopter.
Court records indicate that Crowl admitted to law enforcement that he had smoked marijuana before the crash. The records say a test of his urine indicated the presence of THC, the principal psychoactive constituent of marijuana.
No trial information or arraignment date has yet been scheduled, according to court records. An initial appearance was waived.
