Urbana man will plead to running over, killing woman in 2019

Linn County sheriff’s deputies responded to a deadly crash Dec. 1, 2019, in the parking lot of a bar in Center Point and found a woman and her boyfriend had been hit by a car.

Several witnesses told police a driver of a Chevrolet Suburban had “floored it,” rapidly accelerating in reverse and hitting and killing Kimberley Anne Swore, 50, of Center Point, and seriously injuring Jack Greenhaw Jr., 46, of Vinton.

Witnesses also told authorities that the driver of the Suburban left the scene without providing information or help, according to court documents.

Several hours after the fatality, deputies found driver Bret D. Klima, now 32, of Urbana, and said he admitted to driving recklessly and feeling “a little buzzed” when the crash happened, a criminal complaint said. Authorities said he also admitted to drinking five beers and one mixed drink.

According to her obituary, Swore is survived by her son, parents, six siblings and Greenhaw, who was “the love of her life.”

Swore worked as a respiratory therapist for several years at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton and most recently at CarePro in Cedar Rapids, according to the obituary.

Klima was charged Jan. 17, 2020, with homicide by vehicle — operating under the influence, homicide by vehicle — reckless driving, serious injury by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. A criminal complaint said Klima unintentionally caused the death of Swore and serious injury of Greenhaw.

If convicted on all charges, he faces up to 45 years in prison.

What’s happened since

Klima’s trial has been delayed five times. Case management reports indicated the trial was reset because additional discovery and depositions were needed. It also was delayed a few times because of the pandemic, which caused all Iowa jury trials to be put on hold at two different times in 2020 and last year.

Klima’s trial was last set for Jan. 4, but Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden, who retired last month, said in a court filing that a plea agreement had been reached. He asked a judge to order a pre-plea and presentencing report from the 6th Judicial Department of Correctional Services.

There are no details of the plea agreement in court documents.

Klima will plead and be sentenced Jan. 31 in Linn County District Court, according to a judge’s order.

Klima paid a $50,000 bail last year and remains free pending his plea and sentencing.

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