Cedar Rapids man pleads in fatal crash that killed one, injured another

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man pleaded guilty Thursday to vehicular homicide in a 2022 fatal crash, which killed a 77-year-old Cedar Rapids woman and seriously injured a Marion woman.

Zawadi Christophe, 19, also pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle-operating while intoxicated, serious injury by vehicle-OWI and serious injury-reckless driving.

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In a separate shooting case, he also made Alford pleas to intimidation with a dangerous weapon with intent, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and going armed with intent in an incident on July 24, 2022. An Alford plea is when a defendant maintains innocence but admits the prosecution has sufficient evidence to prove guilt.

In the fatal crash plea, Christophe admitted to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs and driving recklessly when he unintentionally caused the death of Judy Hoover, of Cedar Rapids, and seriously injured Joanne Swenka, 73, of Marion, on Oct. 24, 2022.

Christophe, driving a Dodge Journey in the 800 block of First Avenue W in Cedar Rapids, rear-ended a BMW sport utility vehicle, driven by Swenka and with Hoover as a passenger. The crash caused the BMW to veer into oncoming traffic, where it was hit by a Dodge Ram pickup driving east, according to criminal complaint.

Hoover died in the crash. Swenka had several serious injuries, including a brain bleed, skull and facial fractures, several broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a spinal cord fracture and pelvis fracture.

Last year, Swenka’s family told The Gazette she and Hoover were driving home from bingo that night at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.

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Swenka underwent multiple surgeries and remained in the hospital for some time, her son Scott Swenka previously said. She also experienced some memory issues after coming home.

Christophe, who wasn’t injured in the crash, admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking marijuana, according to the complaint. A preliminary breath test showed he was in excess of the .08 legal driving limit. He also admitted to officers at the time that he struck the BMW, and stated over three hours after the crash that he “doesn’t even feel drunk anymore.”

According to the complaint, the air bag module in his vehicle showed he was traveling at 65 mph five seconds before impact and accelerated to 73 mph about 1.8 seconds before impact — “demonstrating that his reckless driving was also a proximate cause of the death and serious injury to the alleged victims.”

About three weeks before this crash, Christophe had been charged with drunken driving and his driver’s license had been revoked, according to the complaint.

In the shooting case, Marion police investigators determined Christophe and one or more others conspired to “hunt down” another individual because that person was having a conflict with Christophe’s sister, Luwize Ndihokubwayo, according to a criminal complaint.

When they found the targeted victim at Lincoln Drive and 11th Avenue in Marion, one of them shot a firearm at the victim’s car, which was in the vicinity of a school and residential neighborhood, with the intention to provoke fear, the complaint stated.

Christophe’s sister told police he was driving the car when the individuals went to search for the victim and the gun used in the shooting was left in Christophe’s vehicle. The victim wasn’t injured.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Rena Schulte said, as part of the plea agreement, she will recommend running all sentences in both cases concurrently for a total of 25 years in prison. Christophe must also pay any victim restitution in the cases, including $150,000 to Hoover’s estate or heirs in accordance with Iowa law.

His license also will be revoked for six years, according to Iowa law.

Schulte plans to dismiss remaining charges and traffic citations at a sentencing hearing, also as part of the plea agreement.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Justin Lightfoot, during the plea hearing, told Christophe the sentencing judge has discretion and may not go along with the plea agreement on concurrent sentences.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 19 in Linn County District Court.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com