Iowa Tow Operator Struck and Killed by Impaired Semi Driver

A tow operator was struck and killed Sunday, November 12, on I-80 in Urbandale, Iowa.

Operator Joshua Villa, 45, of Adel, Iowa, was assisting a motorist with a disabled vehicle at approximately 10 p.m. As he exited his truck on the right shoulder, he was hit by a semi-truck driven by Dmytro Prysich of Hamtramck, Michigan.

Villa was pronounced dead at the scene.

News reports state that an Urbandale police officer was on the scene as well as a Highway Helper with an electronic sign directing traffic to move to the left to avoid the scene.

The Iowa State Patrol said Prysich failed to move over, left the road and hit the operator and his tow truck. After the crash he left the scene and was stopped by police. Prysich showed signs of impairment during field sobriety testing, police said, and a breath test revealed his blood alcohol level was in excess of .08.

Prysich was arrested on charges of homicide by vehicle-OWI, leaving the scene of a deadly accident and failure to change lane upon approach to emergency stationary vehicles – death. He is being held on a cash-only bond of $500,000.