Iowa Legislature Approves Bill Setting Penalty When Speed Causes Fatality By charguth May 7, 2021 9:56 am clipart.com Des Moines, IA (Radio Iowa)– The Iowa House and Senate have unanimously voted to create a new crime in the state. Representative Jon Thorup, a state trooper from Knoxville, says the bill makes serious penalty to cause a person’s death while driving at a high rate of speed. The Iowa Sheriffs and Deputies Association says it is difficult to appropriately charge a speeding driver involved in a fatal crash if prosecutors cannot prove the driver was intoxicated or intentionally targeting someone. The bill originally passed the house in late March and was given approval by the Senate this week.