DES MOINES – A speeding, intoxicated Iowa man is accused of double-homicide by vehicle after a fatal crash late last month.
On December 29, 2018, 37-year-old Travis Gonzales of Bondurant, was westbound on I-80 near the 138 mile marker driving at a high rate of speed when the vehicle he was operating rear ended a vehicle containing two occupants who later died from the crash: Driver, Austin Gainuss, age 22 and passenger Joshua Cox, 24. After impact, both vehicles lost control and entered the north ditch of I-80. Gonzales’ speed was found to be 126 mph in a 65 mph zone. Gonzales showed several signs of impairment and made several incriminating statements causing troopers to serve a search warrant on the subject for blood. The blood was analyzed at the DCI Crime Lab and a BAC of .219 was returned.
On Tuesday, January 15, Gonzales was arrested and charged by the Iowa State Patrol and booked in the Polk County Jail on the following charges:
2 COUNTS OF HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE – O.W.I.
2 COUNTS OF HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE – RECKLESS DRIVING
OPERATING WHILE INTOXICATED – 1ST OFFENSE