DES MOINES, Iowa — A semi driver from Michigan accused of hitting and killing a tow-truck driver in 2023 was sentenced to prison on Thursday.

On the night of November 12, 2023 Dmytro Prysich, 55, was driving a semi on Interstate 80 near the 86th Street exit in Urbandale when he struck a tow-truck driver who was in the process of towing another vehicle. The tow-truck driver, identified as 45-year-old Joshua Villa of Adel, died from his injuries at the scene.

Prysich was later charged with homicide by vehicle – OWI, leaving the scene of a deadly accident, and failure to change lane upon approach to emergency stationary vehicles – death. In October 2024 a Polk County jury found Prysich guilty of vehicular homicide while under the influence, but acquitted him of leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

On Thursday a Polk County judge sentenced Prysich to up to 25 years in prison and ordered him to pay $150,000 in restitution to Villa’s estate and to participate in a victim-offender dialogue if the victim’s family chooses to do so.

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