Medical & Funeral, and Expenses from Accident

Hi There, My name is Scott Swenka. I live in the Phoenix, AZ area, and my parents live in Marion, Iowa. Marion is a small suburb of Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the Central/Eastern portion of Iowa.

On Monday evening, Oct 24, at approximately 9:23 pm CST a senseless and easily preventable tragedy occurred.

My mother (Joanne Swenka, age 73) and her friend (Judy Hoover, age 77, of Cedar Rapids) were on their way home after their weekly Monday evening Bingo games at a local church. Something they enjoyed doing in their golden age of retirement.

Mom was driving their 2005 BMW X5 heading west on 1st Ave near the 800 Block SW.

At the same time, something sinister was being committed by 18-year-old Zawadi Christophe of Cedar Rapids, who was also heading west on 1st Ave.

Christophe was observed by witnesses driving extremely fast and erratically. Those witnesses did not know (nor did my mom or Judy) he was driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana and with a suspended license from an offense that occurred just three weeks earlier on Oct 4th in Marion. His Oct 4th arrest indicated that he had a Blood Alchohol Level of 0.105%; this is 5.25 times the allowable limit for someone under 21 to consume alcohol which is 0.02%. Even if he had been of age to drink where the allowed BAI is 0.08%, he still would have had 1.31 times the legal limit.

As Christophe recklessly flew around in his Dodge Journey, he slammed into the rear of my Mom’s X5 with such force that it caused them to careen out of control into oncoming traffic, where the passenger side of the X5 was impacted by full-size Dodge Ram pickup.

According to police records, my Mom’s passenger (Judy) was killed instantly or died shortly after that on the scene.

Booking Photo of Zawadi Christophe

My Mom did not fare much better. She suffered a broken back in 2 places, a spinal cord fracture, a fractured pelvis, skull fractures, facial fractures, broken ribs, collapsed lung, brain bleed, bleeding in the abdomen, and numerous deep and long lacerations.

Photo of my Mom following 9hr emergency

surgery to repair her spinal injuries

When police and medical responded, they immediately stabilized my mom as much as possible. They transported her to the University of Iowa Medical Center (a top midwest facility) in Iowa City, Iowa, approximately 30 miles south. Due to wind conditions, she had to be transported by ambulance versus a helicopter.

7" long laceration that created a "flap of skin"

on her ankle

Photo of my Mom after being moved to ICU

when they finished the surgery on her back.

The driver of the Dodge Ram was also injured but was examined by the hospital and later released. Christophe was not injured.

Photo of my Mom after breathing tube

extraction.

Christophe is facing vehicular homicide, Serious Injury By Vehicle, Driving While Barred or Revoked, driving under the influence, underage alcohol consumption, and likely many other charges that will come later on.

Medical expenses are estimated to be north of $500,000 for my Mom. We do not know the funeral costs for Judy and the driver of Ram’s injury. The BMW is a total loss; we are also not sure of the costs of the damage to the Ram.

Christophe’s insurance (if he even had any) will likely not cover anything because he was driving while under suspension. Leaving us the insurance on my Mom's X5, any medicare that my parents have, and any medicare that Judy would have had.

I am starting this out low to get the ball rolling. I will update this article as we learn how the case is proceeding.

Below are selected links from various local news agencies covering the incident.

https://www.kcrg.com/2022/10/25/cedar-rapids-teen-faces-charges-including-homicide-by-vehicle-after-fatal-crash/?fbclid=IwAR0Xq9CoVfRRGiv7D_G1OXuvoCUHPwaI1pa61TitpIOrXYOmLb6SsJPhGzE

https://www.thegazette.com/crime-courts/cedar-rapids-man-charged-with-vehicular-homicide/