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‘Life of innocent man’ taken too soon, family says of loved one killed in 2021 fatal crash
Illinois man sentenced to 25 years in prison
Oct. 3, 2023 5:30 pm, Updated: Oct. 4, 2023 8:36 am
CEDAR RAPIDS — The family of 23-year-old David Nguyen, who was killed in an Interstate 380 crash in 2021 said Tuesday his loss had taken a “great toll” on everyone he knew and the impact he had on family and friends was too much to put into words.
The family said David’s house was always the place to go. He was always open and welcoming and he would “actually listen” when someone needed to talk. He always gave his friends “all he had.”
“Mr. (Tyler) Lee took the life of an innocent man far too soon,” said the family’s statement, which was read during the guilty plea and sentencing hearing of Lee, who crashed into a sport utility vehicle in which Nguyen was the front passenger on March 7, 2021.
“Whenever we drive through the S-curves on the interstate now, we can't help but to be reminded of the accident, as terrible memories and scars which seem to be nightmares we never are able to wake up from,” the statement said.
The family told Lee they hoped his “conscience haunts” him forever and he experiences nightmares and feels the “pain and suffering you have caused each and every one of us.”
Nguyen’s girlfriend, Rylee Brooke Wallingford, who was driving the SUV that night, told Lee he “stole” her future and Nguyen’s future. She will cherish the events from earlier in the day, which started out as “joyful” day because Nguyen was in the process of buying a home that had a garage where he could work on his cars. They also went out to dinner and went to a friend’s birthday party.
Nguyen got to see everyone he loved, except for his brother, Dale, who didn’t get to see him one last time, she said. She will cherish those memories.
Wallingford said she had to fight hard to recover from her two fractured hands and shattered hip injuries as a result of the crash Lee caused, but she has been able to move forward, unlike Nguyen.
Lee, 37, of Rockton, Ill., during the sentencing hearing, told Nguyen’s family he was sorry for what happened and said he never intended to cause a death. He accepts full responsibility for his actions and said he learned from this and will seek drug and alcohol treatment while in prison.
Lee, earlier in the hearing, pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle — operating while intoxicated. He admitted to unintentionally causing the death of Nguyen when he crashed his Ford F-150 pickup truck into Wallingford’s Chevrolet Suburban.
Lee was driving south — the wrong way — on I-380’s northbound lanes when he crashed into Wallingford‘s vehicle, near the Seventh Street exit around 2 a.m. March 7, 2021.
Witnesses told police Lee had entered the interstate on the 29th Street NE exit nearly 2 miles north of the crash site, according to the complaint.
Police said Lee admitted he had been drinking but claimed he was not driving.
According to court records, Lee’s blood alcohol content was 0.164 after the crash — twice the legal limit, which is .08. In the subsequent testing conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Lee’s blood tested positive for opiates, amphetamines, cocaine and marijuana metabolites. Testing also confirmed the presence of oxycodone, cocaine and ecstasy.
Lee questioned the validity of the search warrant for the blood testing in an attempt to keep them out of the trial but a judge ruled the warrant was valid and the results would be allowed as evidence.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever sentenced Lee to 25 years in prison. Lee’s driver’s license will be revoked for six years and he was ordered to pay $150,000 restitution to Nguyen’s estate or heirs, which was paid through his vehicle insurance. His other fines were suspended.
The other charges of homicide by vehicle — reckless driving, and two counts of causing serious injury by a vehicle were dismissed as part of plea agreement.
Lee also is charged with murder in Illinois for a 2017 fatal shooting in Winnebago County. Illinois court records show he was out on bond at the time of the Iowa crash.
Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier said Lee will have to first serve his prison term in Iowa and then it will be up to Illinois authorities to take him back to Winnebago County to face the murder charge.
Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com
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