DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa man who was killed after being hit by a vehicle over the weekend has been identified.
On Sunday at around 11:39 a.m. the Des Moines Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle that had crashed into a tree and hit a pedestrian in the 5400 block of SE 5th Street. According to police, the pedestrian, now identified as 51-year-old Jose Manuel Clark from Des Moines, died from his injuries at the scene.
Several hours later Des Moines Police announced they had arrested the driver of the truck involved in the crash, 23-year-old Andi Gael Cardenas. Police said evidence collected indicated that prior to the crash on SE 5th Street Cardenas was involved in a hit and run in the 1000 block of SE Army Post Road. Cardenas did not stop and continued driving, turning northbound on SE 5th Street. Cardenas then allegedly ran a red light and struck a vehicle that had the right of way. That crash caused Cardenas to lose control of the vehicle and leave the roadway, hitting two trees before striking Clark who was walking on the sidewalk.
Cardenas was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with homicide by motor vehicle – reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and multiple simple misdemeanor traffic offenses.