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Witnesses describe odd events leading to fatal motorcycle crash in Cedar Rapids
Driver accused of driving in grass before veering onto I-380
Mar. 5, 2025 6:41 pm, Updated: Mar. 6, 2025 7:28 am
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CEDAR RAPIDS — A mother and daughter going south on Interstate 380 toward Iowa City testified Wednesday they saw a Buick Enclave traveling down a grassy embankment before it came onto the highway — crashing broadside into a motorcycle on May 5, 2022, and killing the cyclist.
Brittany Saunders, tearing up, said the driver, later identified as Carlos Adail Garcia, 42, of Cedar Rapids, passed in front of them only about a car length away, and drove “directly” into the motorcycle.
Her mom, Debra Saunders, was driving in the right lane and the motorcyclist, later identified as Jeffrey Lankford, 53 of Cedar Rapids, was on the inside lane and had just passed their vehicle when hit.
Brittany Saunders said the Buick was in the place it “wasn’t supposed to be” — in the grass off the Highway 30 interchange with I-380, headed toward Kirkwood Boulevard. The driver already was headed down the embankment when she saw his sport utility vehicle approaching the interstate.
Assistant Linn County Attorney Ryan Decker asked her if Lankford was driving his motorcycle recklessly or swerving, but she said he wasn’t. He seemed to be driving “responsibly,” she said.
She didn’t think the motorcyclist even saw the Buick coming.
Garcia is on trial this week for homicide by vehicle and disarming a police officer, both felonies; operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and possession of a controlled substance-cocaine, both serious misdemeanors; and interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor.
A jury was selected Tuesday and testimony started Wednesday in Linn County District Court. The trial is expected to wrap up Monday.
Garcia is accused of being intoxicated by alcohol and drugs when crashing into Lankford’s motorcycle just before 4 p.m. May 5, 2022, according to criminal complaint. Lankford was ejected from his motorcycle upon impact and was pinned against cable barriers in the interstate’s median.
Garcia had signs of intoxication but refused to take sobriety tests at the scene. Police said they found plastic bags with cocaine in a mint container in his pocket.
Garcia is accused of becoming “combative” with officers and refusing their commands when they attempted to execute a search warrant to take a blood sample at the hospital. According to a complaint, he “momentarily” disarmed an officer of his baton.
Debra Saunders testified she also saw the Buick SUV as it was going down the grassy embankment. The driver was going “fast” and coming toward her vehicle. She braked to slow down because she didn’t know if Garcia was going to stop.
Garcia crossed onto the highway “horizontally very fast,” Debra Saunders said. She said she didn’t see the crash because it happened so quickly but she “heard it.” She stopped and called 911.
Debra Saunders said the motorcyclist wasn’t driving in an unsafe way or swerving on the highway before being struck.
On cross examination, she said she was going the speed limit — 65 mph. She didn’t think the cycle could have avoided the crash.
Andy Volz, who was driving to his daughter’s track meet that day as he took the Highway 30 westbound exit to merge onto I-380, saw Garcia’s SUV going down the embankment. He testified he didn’t see any vehicles at the top of the ramp that would have made Garcia veer off the roadway. There were no other vehicles in the area.
He said the SUV crossed I-380 and crashed into the cycle. He saw the motorcyclist “fly” off the bike and land in the cable barriers.
Andrew Wood also testified Garcia drove “right into traffic,” so Wood slowed down, fearing the SUV might hit his truck.
Lankford’s motorcycle had been traveling near him for about 2 miles, Wood said. He didn’t see it driving recklessly or swerving.
On cross examination, Wood said the SUV hit the back end of the motorcycle.
Linn County sheriff’s Deputy Tim Daubs said he responded to the crash and found Lankford with no signs of life — not breathing, eyes open and fixed. His deputy’s body camera, played during his testimony, showed graphic footage of Lankford’s body on the barrier.
Daubs, who was the first law officer on the scene, put a blanket over the body out of respect, while he waited for investigators and paramedics to arrive.
He said Garcia told officers that another vehicle had struck his SUV at the top of the ramp and forced him off the highway. Daubs said he smelled alcoholic beverages in the Buick.
Daniel Bemenderfer, who was an EMT with Area Ambulance in 2022, testified virtually because he lives out of state. Garcia was “agitated, anxious and frustrated” about the situation and being assessed at the scene, Bemenderfer said. Garcia allowed him to check his vitals and ask some about his medical history. Garcia said he wasn’t injured but didn’t allow him to perform a physical exam for injuries.
Garcia’s blood pressure and heart rate were higher than normal, which isn’t uncommon after a crash, Bemenderfer said.
Garcia told him he didn’t have any medical issues to explain the crash. He asked if Garcia had consumed drugs or alcohol and Garcia denied it. Garcia refused to take a breath test.
At the hospital, Garcia made it difficult for Brooke Hughes, a medical technician, to draw blood after police obtained a search warrant for it. Hughes testified three hospital security officers and three police officers held Garcia down while Hughes got the sample. She said Garcia was struggling with them but she got the sample and turned it over to investigators.
Prosecutor Decker, during his opening statement before witnesses testified, said Garcia’s blood alcohol level was .187 percent when blood was drawn, which is nearly three times over the legal limit of .08 percent. He also tested positive for marijuana, he said.
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