Police: Iowa City man passed out behind wheel, nearly hit two road workers

An Iowa City man is accused of leaving the scene of an injury accident and third-offense OWI after police say he hit a pole, almost hit two Iowa Department of Transportation workers, and fell asleep behind the wheel, causing his car to drift backwards down the street.

Complaints from Iowa City police said officers were called to the intersection of Sycamore Street and Highway 6, where a car driven by 43-year-old Shannon Semler had struck a pole and begun rolling down Sycamore Street just before 9 a.m. Aug. 10. The reports said Semler was passed out behind the wheel of the car, awakened, then began driving west on Deforest Avenue without reporting the accident or returning to the scene.

Police said they then followed a trail of fluid dripping from the car to Semler's home at 1605 Spruce Ct., where the trail led into the garage. After officers entered the residence, they found Semler inside passed out and incoherent, smelling strongly of alcohol.

The complaints said Semler made statements that linked him to being the driver of the car, and that he admitted to drinking. Police said Semler consented to a preliminary breath test, which showed his blood alcohol content at .324.

Leaving the scene of an accident with injury is a serious misdemeanor. Third-offense OWI is a Class D felony.