Spencer, Iowa · Friday, September 3, 2010
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Rembrandt man face vehicular homicide charge

Saturday, September 5, 2009
By Russ Mitchell, Daily Reporter Staff
Felony charges, including vehicular homicide, have been filed against a Rembrandt man involved in a head-on collision earlier this summer.

Troopers from the Iowa State Patrol and deputies from the Buena Vista County Sheriff's Department took 39-year-old Matthew Wrather into custody on Thursday. He was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on charges of felony homicide by motor vehicle, felony serious injury by motor vehicle and felony child endangerment resulting in death.

The charges stem from a crash at 5:55 p.m. July 26 along U.S. Highway 71 just south of the Highway 10 intersection in Buena Vista County.

Wrather's 10-year-old son, Gavin, of Orange City, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Troopers say he was riding in a 2003 Cadillac driven by Matthew Wrather. The southbound Cadillac crossed the center line and went into the path of an oncoming, 2009 Chevrolet van driven by 44-year-old Anthony Borkovek of Ruthven.

Investigators think the elder Wrather was intoxicated when the crash occurred.

Both drivers were seriously injured and were flown to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City. Gavin Wrather was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Iowa State Patrol report.

Matthew Wrather was also driving on a suspended license, had no liability insurance and possessed a fraudulent registration, according to an Iowa State Patrol news release. His son was going to be a fourth-grade student at MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary in the fall.

© Copyright 2009 Spencer Daily Reporter. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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I would say thaat Mr Wrather has ruined his life with this accident, but it sounds like he was already there. The ruined lives are his ex-wife's and his other young son who are without Gavin forever. Shame on you.

-- Posted by IALadyscout on Mon, Sep 7, 2009, at 9:35 AM

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