Trial set in July for man accused in fatal crash of city worker  

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man charged with three counts of vehicular homicide in the death of a city water employee last month will be tried July 20 in Linn County District Court.

Lawson Chadwick, 47, is charged with homicide by vehicle while under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine as a habitual offender, homicide by vehicle while attempting to elude as a habitual offender and homicide by vehicle by reckless driving as a habitual offender.

Chadwick led police on a short high speed chase and crashed into the van driven by Stephen J. Cook, a City of Cedar Rapids Water Division worker, at the intersection of 16th Avenue and Ninth Street SW after Chadwick ran a stop sign on April 17.

Cook was thrown from the van and died the next day at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Chadwick also is charged with first-degree theft in connection with stolen equipment found in his truck at the time of the crash. According to the theft charge, the property was valued at over $10,000.

Chadwick pleaded not guilty to the charges in a written arraignment last week and remains in jail under a $100,000 cash only bond.

If convicted of all charges, Chadwick faces up to 45 years in prison.