North Liberty woman pleads to vehicular homicide in ATV crash

IOWA CITY — A North Liberty woman, who was intoxicated and crashed an all-terrain vehicle into a ravine, unintentionally causing the death of her passenger in 2020, pleaded to vehicular homicide last week.

Julie Bell, 64, pleaded to homicide by vehicle — reckless driving last Friday in Johnson County District Court. A charge of homicide by vehicle — operating under the influence will be dismissed at sentencing as part of the plea agreement.

According to a criminal complaint and search warrant affidavit, Bell called the Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center at 6:03 p.m. July 16, 2020, and reported she was driving a Kawasaki Mule ATV at 2664 Newport Rd. in Solon when she lost control of the 4-wheeler. When deputies arrived, they found her passenger, Mary Kay Knight, 65, pinned underneath the vehicle in a ravine on Knight’s property.

Deputies, according to an affidavit, said Bell was “very emotional and distraught” when they arrived. She said she lost her phone during the crash, which also ejected her from the ATV, and had to run back to Knight’s house to call 911. Bell smelled of alcohol and was slurring her speech, a deputy noted.

The 4-wheeler was on its side and Knight was trapped under it, according to court documents. Knight was unresponsive, and deputies couldn’t find a pulse. Emergency personnel arrived and confirmed Knight was dead.

Law enforcement found Bell’s phone under Knight’s body after the medical examiner moved her from the crash scene.

Bell told law enforcement that she and Knight had a few drinks earlier. Bell admitted to being the driver and also said Knight told her to go faster, but when they went southbound around a curve they lost control and rolled into the ravine.

Bell was treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for injuries, and deputies obtained a search warrant for a sample of blood to test. Her blood alcohol level was over the 0.08 legal limit, according to a criminal complaint.

A deputy said Bell, while at the hospital, said “I just killed my best friend,” according to court documents. Bell then admitted she and Knight drank a full and partial bottle of wine before the ATV ride.

Bell faces up to 10 years in prison. Her sentencing is set for May 9.

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