Authorities have filed multiple charges against a driver involved in a fatal head-on collision that occurred near Ames in late May.
According to the Story County Sheriff’s Office, 41-year-old Ashley Taylor of Slater has been arrested and charged in connection with the May 28 crash that killed 26-year-old Christian Royston of Johnston.
The collision happened around 11:30 p.m. near Highway 30 and Sand Hill Trail just outside of Ames.
Investigators determined that Taylor was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 30 in a 2017 Jeep Renegade when she made head-on impact with a 2006 Chevrolet Impala, which was being driven by Royston.
Royston was pronounced dead at the scene. Taylor was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital with critical injuries.
Court records show Taylor was arrested Monday and booked into the Story County Jail. She faces the following charges:
- Homicide By Vehicle – Operating Under the Influence, a class “B” felony
- Homicide By Vehicle – Reckless Driving, a class “C” felony
- Operating While Under the Influence – First Offense, a serious misdemeanor
- Driving on Wrong Side of Two Way Highway, a scheduled violation
- Driving While License Denied/Suspended/Cancelled,/Revoked, a non-scheduled violation
According to court records, she was released on a $50,000 bond Tuesday.
Royston was an Iowa State University graduate and worked for the Iowa State Daily.
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