Sibley, Iowa — A Spirit Lake woman accused of Vehicular Homicide in connection with a traffic crash in Osceola County in the summer of 2017 has changed her plea to “guilty” in a plea agreement and will face a 20-year prison sentence.
Authorities say 50-year-old Ann Vanderpool was eastbound on Highway 9, near Nettle Avenue, on Saturday morning, June 10th, 2017, when her car crossed the center line and collided head-on with a westbound vehicle, killing that vehicle’s driver, 48-year old Travis Mier of Spirit Lake, and his passenger, 5-year old Elliot Mier.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, Vanderpool was charged with two counts of Vehicular Homicide in connection with the deaths. Troopers say Vanderpool consented to provide a blood sample, which was tested by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Authorities say that the test revealed that Vanderpool’s blood alcohol level was 0.145. Iowa law sets the threshold for drunk driving at 0.08.
The plea agreement calls for the court to sentence Vanderpool to two ten-year prison terms to be served consecutively or back-to-back on two charges of homicide by vehicle – reckless driving. It also calls for Vanderpool to pay restitution to the estates or heirs of the victims, Travis and Eliot Mier in the amount of $300,000. She will also have to pay a fine and court costs, as well as other fees and penalties. As part of the plea agreement, two counts of homicide by vehicle – operating under the influence will be dismissed.
Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for Monday, November 19th. And while it is an Osceola County case, due to scheduling conflicts on the part of one of the parties in the case, the sentencing will be at the Dickinson County Courthouse in Spirit Lake.
