North Liberty man sentenced for serious injury by vehicle

A North Liberty man was sentenced last week to five years in prison after pleading guilty to serious injury by vehicle in relation to a crash last November that seriously injured a pedestrian, according to a press release from the Johnson County Attorney’s Office.

Ta’Gian Hughes was originally charged with operating while under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a serious injury in additional to the serious injury by vehicle charge, but those two charges were dropped as part of a plea deal, the release states.

The charges stem from a crash on Nov. 15, 2024. Hughes was driving a Jeep east on W. Penn Street when he hit a man who was crossing the street at 925 Liberty Way. The man was taken to the hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.

The victim read a victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing on Thursday. In the statement, he expressed gratitude for first responders who saved his life and for his family and community members who have supported him during his recovery, according to the release.

“I spent 18 days in a coma and 49 days in the hospital and inpatient rehabilitation. The physical toll has been immense, but so have the emotional and financial burdens,” he said.

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