North Liberty man faces child endangerment charge after OWI accident
Lang
4/7/19
Leaving the scene of a personal injury accident with his child in the car has led to a North Liberty man’s arrest.
Coralville Police say 43-year-old Matthew Benson of Hawkeye Drive rear-ended another vehicle with his Chevy Malibu at the Coral Ridge Avenue mall entrance just before 9:15 Friday night. Benson then drove away, leaving his front bumper including his front license plate at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle was injured and taken to a local hospital.
Benson was located a short time later and admitted to driving the vehicle. Police say he showed multiple signs of intoxication and was unable to complete field sobriety tests. Benson registered a blood alcohol concentration of .187% on a portable Breathalyzer test and a .192% on a Datamaster.
Benson also admitted to having his eight-year-old son in the car at the time of the accident. The boy was treated for a neck injury by medical personnel.
Benson was arrested and charged with Operating While Intoxicated, Child Endangerment Causing Bodily Injury and Leaving the Scene of an Injury Accident. If convicted on all three charges, he faces a maximum of seven years in prison.
