State patrol finds gun, alcohol after reckless driver hits 120 mph on I-80

TIFFIN - A Chicago man was found with a loaded handgun Sunday after drunkenly speeding down Interstate 80, according to the Iowa State Patrol.

Cedar County authorities broadcast around 3 p.m. that a black sedan had been involved in a hit-and-run crash on I-80 westbound. The vehicle was spotted via aircraft continuing on I-80.

Authorities said the driver - later identified as Isaiah T. Johnson, 29, of Chicago - reached speeds of 120 mph in a 65 mph zone and 112 in a 70 mph zone. Johnson hit speeds in excess of 100 mph in a construction zone and was passing other vehicles on the shoulder and in the median.

Johnson's drive ended near the 235 mile marker when he hit a semi trailer. A trooper arrived and found Johnson near the driver's door. He was the only person in the vehicle, authorities said.

Authorities said they found an open container of alcohol, a 'personal use amount” of marijuana, a marijuana grinder and a loaded handgun inside the vehicle.

Johnson is a felon and does not have a permit to carry a weapon, the state patrol said.

Testing done at the Coralville Police Department showed Johnson's blood alcohol content to be 0.163 percent at 4:27 p.m., more than double the legal limit to operate a vehicle in Iowa.

Johnson was arrested and faces charges in Johnson County of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of marijuana, drunken driving and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted of all four charges, he could face up to seven years in prison.

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