Cedar Rapids teen faces vehicular homicide charge

Criminal charges have been filed against the driver involved in a crash that killed a Cedar Rapids teenager.

Ramius Hardiman, 17, of Cedar Rapids, has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide after the early-morning crash on Nov. 8 that killed 17-year-old Jose Mendoza, according to court documents.

One count alleges Hardiman unintentionally caused Mendoza's death by operating a vehicle while he was under the influence of alcohol, while the other count alleges that reckless driving caused the accident.

“Obviously, it was a preventable accident, as the complaint spells out,” Linn County Attorney Vander Sanden said. “Certainly, alcohol and bad judgment were the main factors that resulted in the death, and that's why we've got two counts here.”

Vander Sanden said because Hardiman doesn't turn 18 until January, the case must start in juvenile court. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9 to hear the prosecution's motion to move the case to adult court.

Police said Mendoza was wearing his seat belt in the back seat of the car that rolled and hit a utility pole in the 3300 block of Cottage Grove Avenue SE. He was flown to an Iowa City hospital where he died.

Two other passengers in the car, Katie Opperman, 18, of Central City, and Bostan Andrew, 17, of Cedar Rapids, were not seriously hurt. All four of the teenagers were students at Metro High School in Cedar Rapids.

Opperman was charged with public intoxication and possession of alcohol under the legal age. Andrew does not face any criminal charges.

Few details have surfaced about what led up to the accident, and attempts to reach the passengers have been unsuccessful. On a memorial Facebook page for Mendoza, Opperman wrote that the teenagers were in Iowa City “(walking) down the street (trying) to find a party” before the crash.

The teens were a couple miles away on Pioneer Avenue SE about an hour before the crash. A police officer who responded to a noise complaint there found them listening to music, and told them to turn it down.

Vander Sanden said investigators determined the car became airborne as it crested the steep hill, resulting in the loss of control.

“Clearly the aftermath of the collision demonstrated that you had excessive speed involved,” Vander Sanden said.