Crime & Safety

Driver Charged in Crash that Claimed Life of Urbandale Motorcyclist

Driver of SUV charged with failure to yield the right of way.

The driver of a sport utility vehicle involved in a crash that killed an Urbandale man as he rode his motorcycle last month has been charged.

Katherine Bloch, 51, of Polk City was charged with failure to yield the right of way, the Des Moines Register reports.

Nicholas Otto, 57, died at the scene of the crash. Bloch reportedly turned in front of him about 6 a.m. on Aug. 27 at the intersection of Hickman Road and Ninth Street in Des Moines.

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Des Moines Police spokesman Sgt. Jason Halifax said Bloch’s driving didn’t meet the threshold for reckless driving.

“it was, unfortunately, a bad accident,” he said. “And someone died from it.”

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