Hiawatha Man Charged with Homicide by Vehicle

A Friday morning police chase in Cedar Rapids that resulted in a two-vehicle accident has brought an assortment of charges against a Hiawatha man. The charges include Homicide by Vehicle after the death of another man.

Cedar Rapids Police say that 47-year old Lawson Sean Chadwick of Hiawatha has been charged with Homicide by Vehicle following the death of 35-year old Cedar Rapids City Water Department employee Stephen Justin Cook, of Palo. Cook, an employee in the Meter Shop of the City's Water Department, died this evening at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics as the result of injuries sustained in an accident Friday morning in which Chadwick's vehicle collided with the City vehicle that Cook was driving.

The Homicide by Vehicle charge against Chadwick is a Class C felony. Earlier today, he was charged with Serious Injury by Vehicle and Eluding, both Class D felonies. The charges stem from failing to pull over for police and then crashing into the side of a City of Cedar Rapids Water Department van Friday morning. Chadwick has also been charged with several traffic violations, including Operation without Registration, Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign (two counts), Speeding, Unsafe Entry onto a Roadway, and Reckless Driving.

Chadwick was arrested at around noon today, after being released from St. Luke's Hospital. He's being held in the Linn County Jail.

Cedar Rapids Police say additional charges are likely.