Cedar Rapids man arrested after head-on fatal collision in Walford

A Cedar Rapids man is facing a charge of homicide by vehicle while under the influence after a March collision in Walford killed a man.

Edwin Arenivas, 22, of Cedar rapids was arrested Saturday morning on a warrant issued for homicide by vehicle-operating under the influence, according to the Linn County Sheriff's Office.

The arrest is in connection with a fatal collision March 7 that killed John Halvorson, 32, of Cedar Rapids.

Emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of Highway 151 and Commercial Drive in Walford at 5:54 a.m. March 7. They discovered two vehicles had collided head on. One driver, later identified as Arenivas, was in critical condition, according to the sheriff's office. The driver of the other vehicle, Halvorson, was found dead.

Arenivas had crossed the center line and struck Halvorson's vehicle head on, according to the sheriff's office. Arenivas had to be mechanically extracted from his vehicle and was flown by Lifeguard Air Ambulance to University of Iowa hospitals for treatment of what were thought to be life-threatening injuries.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office investigated. Fairfax Fire Department, Air Ambulance and Lifeguard Air Ambulance also responded to the scene.

An OWI-related vehicular homicide offense is a Class B felony. In Iowa, a conviction could result in up to 25 years in prison and a six-year revocation of a driver's license.

Arenivas is being held in the Linn County Jail on a $20,000 cash bond.