Coralville woman accused of hitting another woman with her car

IOWA CITY - A Coralville woman was arrested on a warrant for hitting another woman with her car last month.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, around 5:30 p.m. on May 4, officers responded to the 2200 block of Taylor Drive for a motor vehicle crash with injuries. Responding officers learned the victim had been hit by a white vehicle that left the scene. Police found the suspect vehicle at a residence on Burns Avenue in Iowa City, which was then home to 28-year-old Bradley R. Orthel.

Police said Orthel claimed she was being attacked by the victim and drove away to avoid being attacked. However, police said the victim was trying to direct traffic around a prior crash when Orthel hit her. Orthel then drove forward and over the victim's foot, police said.

Orthel told police she was calling in the incident when they arrived, but had been placed on hold. Police said based on witness reports at the scene, there was no safe way for Orthel to continue driving without hitting the victim.

After the incident, police obtained warrants for serious injury by vehicle, a Class D felony; and leaving the scene of an injury accident that resulted in a serious injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. Those warrants were served Tuesday night around 10:30 p.m. when Orthel was stopped by the Iowa State Patrol on Interstate 80 for speeding. Police said after taking her into custody on the arrest warrants, several plastic baggies and a smoking device that tested positive for marijuana were found in the vehicle. Orthel faces additional charges of possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia; a simple misdemeanor.