Hunter
01/10/20
A Washington man has been taken into custody for leaving the scene of an accident and a host of other violations stemming from a December 5th incident in Iowa City.
According to police, 22-year-old Baylee Escher of East 3rd Street in Washington was observed near the intersection of Kirkwood Avenue and South Gilbert Street at about 2:30am operating a vehicle with a non-functioning center brake light. Officers tried to stop Escher, but he accelerated and began to flee.
Radar measured Escher going 61 in a 25 mile-an-hour zone. He would later drive off the road and strike an unoccupied parked vehicle. Escher was identified by his cousin, a passenger who was left in the vehicle. She complained of pain to her ribs and torso caused by the accident.
Escher’s driving privileges were found to be suspended for non-payment of fines.
A warrant was issued for his arrest later that day, and he was taken into custody early Friday. He’s been charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident, eluding, violation of financial liability, driving while license suspended, reckless driving, failure to maintain control, speeding, failure to obey traffic devices, and driving while revoked. If convicted on the leaving the scene and eluding charges, Escher could be sentenced to up to six years in prison.