BURLINGTON, IOWA – A blind Iowa man was run down by an alleged drunk driver, now that suspect is behind bars and accused of felony vehicular homicide.
On October 17, 2023 Burlington Police Officers arrested Megan Marie Kalar, 36, completing an investigation into a fatality accident that occurred near the intersection of Summer and Grove Streets in Burlington. Police say that at approximately 9:03 PM on February 26, 2021, Jacob Sexton was struck and killed by a car driven by Kalar. Sexton, who was blind, was using a red and white cane and GPS on his phone to walk home when he was struck by Kalar’s vehicle. He was transported to the hospital and later transferred to the University of Iowa Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
At the time of the accident, officers spoke to Kalar and noted signs of intoxication. They asked if she had been drinking and she said she had not. Kalar submitted to a preliminary breath test and the results of that test indicated her blood alcohol content was over the legal limit. Officers obtained a search warrant to obtain a blood sample from Kalar for chemical testing. The blood sample was sent to the DCI laboratory and the DCI analyst determined Kalar’s blood alcohol content at the time of the accident was over the legal limit to drive a vehicle.
Kalar was charged with Homicide By Vehicle – Operating Under The Influence, a Class B felony, and Homicide By Vehicle – Reckless Driving, a Class C felony.
