Police Department

Man Convicted of Vehicular Homicide

Julie Humphreys, Communications Manager, 509.625.5868

Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 8:11 a.m.

Tow truck driver convicted of vehicular homicide that killed a woman riding her bike in June of 2020

This afternoon, 3/22/23, in Spokane County Superior Court, a jury found 49-year old Jonathon Ryser Jr. of Post Falls, Idaho, guilty in the death of Kerry Wiltzius. Wiltzius was cycling on State Route 206 in the early morning hours of June 26, 2020, when Ryser struck her with a large flatbed tow truck, hauling another full size truck. Ryser admitted to smoking cannabis the morning of the collision and to using another drug the night before.  A blood draw after the collision confirmed methamphetamine and cannabis in his system.

A Spokane Police Department Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) responded to the collision scene at the request of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and was able to establish probable cause to charge Ryser with Impaired Driving Vehicular Assault. Working collaboratively with WSP’s investigative team, the charge was changed to Vehicular Homicide after the victim succumbed to her injuries several days later.

Wiltzius was a well-known triathlete and community volunteer. Her family was present throughout the weeklong trial and expressed their gratitude to the witnesses who testified. Ryser, who remained out of custody during the nearly 3 years since the collision, was booked into the Spokane County Jail after the verdict. He is scheduled to be sentenced in April.

Washington State is at a 20 year high for fatal collisions, and many of these collisions are due to drug impairment, to include cannabis.  Cannabis does affect a drivers ability to judge time and distance along with other impairing factors. 

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