Driver Arrested In Deadly Drag Race In Des Moines

Des Moines Police say a 23 year old man involved in a deadly drag racing accident on I-235 in November has been arrested.

Police say Devin Russell Smith was booked into the Polk County Jail on Thursday evening for Vehicular Homicide by Drag Racing. WHO-TV Channel 13 reports Smith and 22 year old Dimitrious Galvan had spent the evening together drinking at Shaggy’s, a downtown Des Moines bar, before the fatal crash .

Police say around 2:00 am on November 8th Galvan lost control of his Honda Civic on I-235 eastbound near the Easton Boulevard exit. Galvan’s vehicle rolled and flipped before crashing into a sound barrier. Galvan was ejected from the car and thrown over the barrier and into a neighbor’s yard. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say that Galvan and Smith were both driving more than 100 miles per hour when the crash happened. Court records show officers at the scene say Smith had bloodshot and watery eyes and smelled of alcohol. Open containers were also found at the scene. Police say the investigation remains open as they await toxicology results.

(Photo: WHO-TV Channel 13)


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