STORY COUNTY – This Iowa woman was allegedly drunk as she drove on the wrong side of a 4-lane highway and then struck an innocent young man’s vehicle head-on, taking his life, and now a trial for her deed looms.
The Story County Sheriff’s Office responded to a head-on collision located at Highway 30 and Sand Hill Trail east of Ames, at 11:30 PM Wednesday evening, May 28, 2025.
The investigation and witness reports indicate a 2017 white Jeep Renegade, driven by Ashley Taylor, a 41-year-old female from Slater, Iowa, was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 30, colliding with a 2006 gray Chevrolet Impala driven by Christian Royston, a 26-year-old male from Johnston, Iowa.
Christian Royston was pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision. According to an obituary, “Christian was an amazing person. He was kind, caring, generous, smart, funny, and handsome. He was a great student, a hardworking and reliable co-worker/employee, and a dedicated and loyal friend.”
Ashley Taylor (pictured at top) was transported to a Des Moines area hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries.
Police continued to investigate, and on June 23, Taylor was arrested on the following charges in connection to this incident:
- HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE – OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, CLASS B FELONY
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HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE – RECKLESS DRIVING, CLASS C FELONY
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OPERATING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE 1ST OFFENSE, SERIOUS MISDEMEANOR
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DRIVING ON WRONG SIDE OF TWO WAY HIGHWAY
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DRIVING WHILE LICENSE DENIED/SUSPENDED/CANCELLED/REVOKED
Taylor remains free as she awaits a possible jury trial set for February 17, 2026.