DES MOINES, Iowa –The man who hit and killed a well-known local cyclist last year was sentenced to 34 years in prison Friday.
Jonathan Leyva-Rodriguez will have to serve 17.5 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
Last month, Leyva-Rodriguez was found guilty of six charges in connection with a 2015 hit and run: homicide by vehicle, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, leaving the scene of a personal scene accident, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and operating a motor vehicle while barred.
Police say he was drunk when he drove into Wade Franck — killing him. It happened as Franck was riding in an organized bike ride in Des Moines. Prosecutors claimed Leyva-Rodriguez drove off without braking or slowing down.
Franck’s mother gave an emotional victim impact statement in the courtroom during sentencing. “Losing a child is an earthquake the cracks open your soul,” Jan Franck said.
Franck’s father and girlfriend also addressed the court, talking about how the loss of Wade has affected them.