Davenport man arrested following tow truck vs. pedestrian crash

[TowForce]

52-year-old Granvell K. Ramey of Davenport has been arrested after police say he was texting when he ran over a woman with his tow truck and fled the scene.

 

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Davenport police have arrested a man in connection to a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash that left a woman seriously injured.

52-year-old Granvell K. Ramey of Davenport has been arrested and charged with the following:

• Serious Injury by Vehicle-Reckless by Use of Electronic Device
• Serious Injury Hit and Run
• Prevention Apprehension/Obstructing Prosecution 
• Reckless Driving 
• Fail to Obey Stop Sign (five counts)
• Duty of Driver – Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian
• Use of Electronic Communication Device While Driving

 

The arrest stems from a March 13 vehicle vs. pedestrian crash in which police say Ramey was driving a tow truck when he struck a woman who had the right of way at the intersection of Rockingham Road and South Concord Street, seriously injuring her. 

 

According to a criminal complaint, Ramey ran over the woman with the tow truck, causing injuries including a right femur fracture, pelvic fracture, left pneumothorax and multiple rib fractures.

 

Police say video footage from Ramey's tow truck and nearby businesses identified him as the driver of the tow truck. 

 

Police say the video shows Ramey knowingly running the victim over, and then leaving the scene. Ramey conducted an improper turn at the intersection of the crash, with his tow truck not completely to the right of the center line while turning, according to police. 

 

Video showed Ramey using his phone while driving just before the crash. Ramey deleted text messages and phone call records following the crash, according to police.

 

The incident occurred during a three-mile drive, in which police say Ramey drove at times with no hands on the steering wheel while using his phone and also committing several other traffic infractions.

 

Co-workers also identified Ramey as the driver. Police say Ramey admitted to driving the tow truck involved in the crash.

 

The pedestrian was identified as a 43-year-old woman. She was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. No update has been provided on her condition. 

 

No other injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation.

 

 

 

[TowForce]

Davenport man pleads not guilty in tow truck incident on Rockingham Road

 

The man accused in a hit and run incident involving a tow truck on Rockingham Road in Davenport last month has entered a plea.

 

According to court records, Granvell Ramey submitted a written arraignment in Scott County Court yesterday through his attorney. He pleaded not guilty to charges of serious injury by vehicle and knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury. Both charges are class D felonies in Iowa. He waived his right to a speedy trial.

 

On March 13, shortly after 7:30 a.m., Davenport Police responded to a hit-and-run crash involving a tow truck and a pedestrian at the intersection of Rockingham Road and South Concord Street, according to arrest reports. Police officers obtained video of the crash from a nearby business and found a suspect truck – a 2016 gray Freightliner – in a nearby tow yard, according to affidavits. Ramey was identified as the driver of the tow truck by co-workers and through video footage

His next court appearance is a review hearing on June 18.

 

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[TowForce]

‘I hope justice is served.’ Davenport woman struck by truck struggles every day

 

 A Davenport woman who was hit by a tow truck six months ago while she was crossing the street is struggling financially now and is at risk of being evicted from her home.

 

Dana Evans was walking to work at the former Hy-Vee store on Rockingham Road when police say Granvell Ramey was driving in the area, hit her with a tow truck and left the scene.

 

Ramey faces charges in connection with the incident.

 

“I hope justice is served to the fullest extent of the law. He needs to atone for what he’s done and what he’s caused,” Evans told Our Quad Cities News.

 

Evans has experienced a roller-coaster of emotions since that day, “from anger to stress to hurt, somewhat asking why. Why was the person negligent? Not asking why me, but why this could’ve been completely avoided,” she said.

 

Evans now has titanium rods and screws in her right hip and femur, leaving her unable to walk and work.

 

Her fiance, Dave Lykam, quit his job to help Evans do things like use the bathroom and shower. “He is my rock. I have a few people that I can call that have been my rock. Without him, I don’t know what I would do.”

 

With the couple out of work, they are struggling financially because the only source of income is Evans’ Social Security check.

 

Lykam has sold two guitars and two amps. “I’m about ready to sell my pickup truck so we can have the things we need,” he said.

 

Now they’re afraid they will be evicted from their home. They are waiting for insurance to help cover the rent, but say their landlord isn’t willing to wait for it.

 

“In the nearly four years we’ve been here we’ve never faltered,” Evans said. “Everything has been paid on time.”

 

Along with the stress of potential eviction, Lykam says, being a caretaker is tough.

 

“I’m afraid we’re going to be kicked out into the street, and we have nowhere to go,” he said. “I’m not rich. I had money saved that I had to go into to take care of things. It’s gone. It’s just a lot of hardship of her treatment, every day, what we go through every night and day.”

 

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