Charges still possible in October fatal accident

IOWA CITY - Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said her office only recently received a crash report from the deadly accident that killed 14-year-old Clear Creek Amana High School student Mackenzie Lown in October, and she's still considering whether to file charges against the driver.

The crash happened Oct. 17 on Highway 6 near Tiffin. Zachary Swenka, an 18-year-old Clear Creek Amana High School student at the time, was driving Lown and four other passengers when his vehicle veered to the right and then swerved back, crossing the centerline and colliding with an oncoming minivan, according to the Iowa State Patrol.

Part of the left rear section of Swenka's car was torn off, and Lown was ejected and suffered fatal injuries. The students were traveling from a cross country practice at Kent Park to the high school at the time of the collision, according to Lown's parents.

The patrol only recently wrapped up its investigation and passed the case over to the Johnson County Attorney's Office a few weeks ago for consideration of charges, Lyness said. Her office has not made a final decision about whether to file charges against Swenka, she said, adding that the case is “still in the investigation stage.”