Judge sentences Solon man to 25 years for vehicular homicide

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Solon man pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday for crashing into a Walford motorcyclist at the Wright Brothers Boulevard and Interstate 380 interchange last August.

Taylor Latare, 26, pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle and also agreed to be immediately sentenced by 6th Judicial District Senior Judge Thomas Koehler. Latare, driving an Oldsmobile Cutlass, struck the back of a motorcycle, driven by Gregory P. Erenberger, 59, who had stopped for a red light at the interchange about 10:47 p.m. Aug. 5, the criminal complaint shows. Erenberger was thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene.

Police said Latare showed signs of intoxication, failed several field sobriety tests and admitted he was 'drunk,” the complaint shows. He provided a breath alcohol specimen at the Linn County Jail following the crash and it showed his blood alcohol level was .173 percent. The legal driving limit is .08 percent in Iowa.

Koehler also told Latare he is prohibited from driving a vehicle for a period of six years and his driving privileges will not be reinstated until he completes all law requirements, which include a course for drunken drivers and evaluation and substance abuse treatment.

Latare also was ordered to pay restitution of $150,000 to Erenberger's estate.

Latare was initially arrested for drunken driving, but his charge was upgraded later by Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden.

John Breitbach, Latare's attorney, said after a previous hearing that his client is an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and suffered from depression and anxiety.

Erenberger's wife, Debbie Erenberger declined to comment on Wednesday.

Vander Sanden wasn't available to comment Wednesday.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com