Man accused of fatal hit-and-run in Hiawatha pleads not guilty

HIAWATHA, Iowa (KCRG) – The man charged with a hit-and-run resulting in death in April in Hiawatha has pleaded not guilty.

Shawn Steele, 47, is accused of operating under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

According to court documents, Shawn Steele hit 52-year-old Tommy Thomas with his truck on April 2 at the corner of North 12th Avenue and Lyndhurst Drive, killing him.

The criminal complaint states that Thomas was involved in a “road rage incident” and got out of his car several times to make contact with Steele.

Thomas managed to climb into the passenger side of Steele's truck.

Steele drove away and Thomas fell to the ground, where he was run over and killed.

Shawn Steele is accused of operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

A search warrant indicates that several people witnessed the accident and followed Steele's Penske truck as he drove from the scene.

The arrest warrant goes on to say that a Linn County Sheriff's Office deputy at the scene said Steele smelled of alcohol and that a beer can was visible in the cab of Steele's vehicle.

He also said Steele had bloodshot and watery eyes. His blood alcohol content was .182, more than twice the legal limit in Iowa.

People close to Thomas say that road rage likely played a role in the accident. Thomas was a maintenance technician at Cornell College.

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