The parents of a popular Des Moines cyclist killed by a drunken driverpromised Fridayto keep pressure on state legislators to fix Iowa’s “catch and release” handling of intoxicated motorists.
Gregary and Jan Franck made that vow Friday just minutes after watching a Polk County jury convict Jonathan Leyva Rodriguez of vehicular homicide and five other charges stemming from the crash that left their son, Gregary Wade Franck, bloodied and dying after he was struck along Grand Avenue.
Leyva Rodriguez, 32, previouslyhad been convicted of operating while intoxicated before the Aug. 16 crash, and his driver’s license was suspended at the time.
“We’re grateful that the nightmare of the trial is over and that Iowans will not have to fear being killed by this repeat drunk driver for years to come,” Gregary Franck said after the verdict was read. “In Wade’s memory, Jan and I will continue to lobby the legislature to strengthen our drunk driving laws and end the catch-and-release program for repeat drunk drivers. This approach killed Wade. His death was senseless, needless and preventable.”
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