Cedar Rapids woman pleads in fatal head-on crash with motorcyclist in 2023

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids woman pleaded Monday to lesser charges before her trial was set to begin Tuesday in a fatal head-on crash. She unintentionally caused the death of a motorcyclist in October of 2023.

Debra Kay Trimble, 62, originally charged with homicide by vehicle, pleaded to homicide by vehicle — reckless driving, and serious injury by vehicle — operating while intoxicated, both felonies; and operating while intoxicated, a serious misdemeanor.

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Trimble, during her plea hearing, admitted to driving a Pontiac Vibe in a reckless manner on Oct. 3, 2023, crossing the center line at 3850 Cottage Grove Ave. SE and unintentionally causing the death of Chad Eugene Craig, 48, of Cedar Rapids, who was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

According to a criminal complaint, Trimble crashed head-on into the motorcycle.

Jillissa Murphy, a criminalist with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, during a deposition, said Trimble’s blood alcohol content registered .094 percent four hours after the crash — which is over the legal limit of .08 percent, according to court documents.

Murphy also said the retrograde extrapolation, a calculation used to estimate the level at the time of the crash, would be much higher. She estimated it would have been between .138 and .203 percent, the document stated.

The toxicology reports showed Trimble also had cocaine in her system the day of the crash, according to court documents.

Witnesses told police Trimble passed another vehicle in a no-passing zone uphill and on a curve as she struck the motorcycle, which was driving in the proper lane, a criminal complaint stated.

Law enforcement at the scene said Trimble had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred and mumbled speech and had a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath,” the complaint stated. Trimble failed a field test and refused to take other tests at the scene.

Trimble told police she drank three alcoholic beverages, according to the complaint. She was taken to the Linn County Jail and consented to providing a breath sample that registered a blood alcohol content of .109, according to the complaint.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier, after the hearing, said he planned to try this case Tuesday but the defense suggested a possible plea agreement, and Craig’s family supported the plea when Schier informed them.

Sixth Judicial District Judge David Cox accepted the plea for the homicide by vehicle — reckless driving and the two written pleas for the other felony and misdemeanor charges.

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Nekeidra Tucker, Trimble’s lawyer, during the hearing, said all the charges would run consecutively for a total of up to 16 years in prison.

Cox said Trimble would also be required to pay $150,000 to Craig’s heirs or estate, as required by law.

A sentencing date will be set later.

Dawn Lienau, Craig’s wife, told The Gazette after his death that they typically would have worked that night at Kraft Heinz in southwest Cedar Rapids, but both had taken bereavement leave after the recent death of Lienau’s sister.

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She said her husband was going to Menards that night and asked her to go with him, but she declined. When he didn’t return, she started to wonder where he might be — but wasn’t too worried because he was always stopping to help someone. He “loved his cars and was always working on somebody’s car,” she said.

Lienau said she blacked out after hearing from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office about Craig’s fatal crash.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com