Hunter
05/03/25
A Cedar Rapids man convicted of vehicular homicide and other charges in the 2022 death of a motorcyclist was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday.
42-year-old Carlos Garcia was reportedly intoxicated while driving a Buick headed south on I380 May 5th, 2022. As he started to take the Highway 30 East ramp, he veered down the embankment, then back onto the interstate, where he broadsided and killed 53-year-old motorcyclist Jeffrey Lankford of Cedar Rapids.
Garcia refused to take sobriety tests at the scene and was transported to a hospital for a blood draw. He allegedly had to be held down by three police officers and briefly took a baton from an officer. The test showed his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, and Garcia also tested positive for marijuana.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros said running the homicide by vehicle and disarming a police officer convictions consecutively was appropriate because Garcia , quote, “hasn’t taken much responsibility or shown remorse.”