Homicide By Vehicle Charge Filed In Cedar Falls Crash
A Minnesota man has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal accident in Cedar Falls late last year.
Cedar Falls police confirmed that Charles Brooks, 43, of Champlin, Minn., was arrested Thursday morning (May 11, 2017). In a press release, authorities said investigators learned that Brooks had used marijuana prior to the mishap and was driving erratically at a high rate of speed before crashing into another vehicle.
The accident killed Cynthia Brooks, 38, of Waterloo, who was one of three passengers in Charles Brooks' car. The other two passengers — Leslie Brooks, 43, and Kamyah Brooks, 7, both of Champlin — suffered serious injuries.
Records show the crash occurred on the Iowa Highway 57 (1st St.) bridge over the Cedar River near Gateway Park in the early morning hours of Nov. 5, 2016. The Brooks' vehicle struck a mini-van, driven by Randy Combs, 62, of Waterloo. Combs received minor injuries, but his passenger -- Daniel Combs, 59, of Waterloo -- was seriously injured.
Both vehicles were westbound when they collided shortly after midnight. Each vehicle hit the bridge’s cement barrier after impacting.
According to previous information released after the mishap, Charles Brooks was initially charged with serious injury by motor vehicle - a felony. As part of the investigation, officials obtained a search warrant for a sample of his blood. Cedar Falls police said lab tests later revealed that Brooks had marijuana in his system at the time of the accident.
Related Stories:
More From AM 950 KOEL
