UPDATE: On June 6, 2023, Kent Reimers, 24, of Walcott, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty in connection with a collision between a Durant fire truck and an agricultural field sprayer.
Court records show he pleaded guilty to operating while intoxicated – first offense; and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury. For the OWI, he was sentenced to incarceration in Muscatine County Jail for a period of one year, with all but 20 days suspended with credit for any time served. He was allowed to serve the sentence on weekends.
For the charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury, he was given an indeterminate sentence of five years, with credit on his sentence for any time spent in Muscatine County Jail in connection with the case. The sentence was suspended, and Reimers was placed on probation, “pending good behavior for a period of three years.”
EARLIER: A Walcott man has been arrested in connection with a motor vehicle collision with injuries in the 1200 block of Vail Avenue south of Durant on May 2, 2022, after a collision between a Durant fire truck and an agricultural field sprayer.
Around 7:58 p.m., Muscatine Joint Communications (MUSCOM) received a call of a motor vehicle collision with injuries in the 1200 block of Vail Avenue, south of Durant. A member of the Durant Police Department arrived within minutes and realized the collision involved a Durant fire truck that had been responding to a call for service. The second vehicle was described as a Terra Gator type agricultural field sprayer, which had left the scene.
After an on-site investigation, the vehicle/implement was located at 737 Lincoln Street in Walcott. The driver/operator, later identified as Kent Reimers of Walcott, was interviewed, arrested and charged with Operating While Intoxicated (1st Offense) and Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident.
Reimers was released on $1,300 bond to appear May 10 in Muscatine Count Court. He has pleaded not guilty and waived a preliminary hearing, court records say.
According to arrest affidavits, Reimers fled the scene before law enforcement arrival. He admitted to operating the vehicle at the time of the accident and admitted to the consumption of whiskey prior to operating the vehicle. Reimers “stated he did not consume additional alcohol after the accident,” the affidavit says.
Reimers submitted to field sobriety tests and failed two out of three tests. He “had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath,” the affidavit says. He matched the name and description given by an eye witness on the scene, the affidavit says.
Several members of the Durant Fire Department were transported and treated for injuries sustained in the collision. There’s no word on their conditions at this time. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed when applicable. The Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Durant Police Department, Walcott Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and the Muscatine County Attorney’s Office are assisting with the investigation.
