GREENFIELD – Derek Eugene Ueligger, 32, entered guilty pleas Monday to two counts of homicide by vehicle in connection with the Nov. 2, 2016, deaths of Dawn Christensen, 88, of Adair, and Norma Caltrider, 85, of Adair.
At a change of plea hearing in the Adair County Courthouse, Ueligger admitted to being under the influence of several drugs when he crossed the center line of Iowa Highway 25 south of Orient, hitting head-on a car driven by Betty Schultz of Greenfield. Schultz and another passenger in the car, Marilyn Ehrsam of Greenfield, were seriously injured.
Victims and family had submitted victim impact statements to the court prior to the hearing and some in attendance thought that sentencing would occur at the hearing.
“I know some of you came with some anticipation that there would be more proceedings than there will be,” said District Court Judge Martha Merts.
The plea agreement dictates that Ueligger will be sentenced to no more than 25 years for each of the two counts.
The agreement does not address whether or not the sentences will be served consecutively or concurrently. If the sentence is for Ueligger to serve the terms consecutively, then he can face up to 50 years in prison.
Ueligger was also ordered to pay restitution to the families of Christensen and Caltrider in the statute-determined amount of $150,000 each.
If Ueligger does not appeal his sentence, then two counts of serious injury by vehicle will be dismissed. He still must pay restitution to Schultz and Ehrsam.
As the judge read the facts of the case, several people in attendance wiped away tears.
Ueligger had to testify to the circumstances that led up to the collision. He said that he was driving under the influence of drugs when he crossed the center line and struck the oncoming vehicle, “which resulted in the death of two women and the injury of two others,” he said.
County Attorney Clint Hight asked that Ueligger also testify as to the drugs he had in his system, which included amphetamines, benzodiazepine, opioids and tricyclics.
After the judge accepted Ueligger’s change of plea, she revoked his bond and he was taken into custody. After tearful goodbyes with family and friends, he was taken to the Adair County Jail until sentencing.
Sentencing was set for 9:30 a.m. October 16.