(The following story by Jason Kristufek appeared on the Boone Today website on December 9.)
BOONE, Iowa — A Des Moines man charged with killing three Mid-Iowa motorcycle riders in an automobile accident in the summer of 2002 is scheduled to stand trial on Dec. 8 in Tama County.
Gary Lee Butler, 49, was a contract transport driver for the Union Pacific Railroad when his van slammed into six motorcycle riders.
He is charged with three counts of vehicular homicide, six counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of serious injury by vehicle. Court documents indicate the trial is expected to last four days.
The Iowa State Patrol has said Butler fell asleep and crossed the center line of U.S. Highway 30 near Chelsea June 22, 2002. The accident occurred on a clear, dry day at about 11 a.m.
Arlen Pickering, 53, of Story City; Douglas Sampson, 51, Ames; and Ross Holland, 57, Boone, were killed in the accident.
James Olson, 64, Richard Vauble, 52, and Wayne Wierson, 58, all of Ames, were injured. The motorcycle riders were traveling to an open house at J & P Cycles in Anamosa.
Butler was traveling toward Boone after dropping off a Union Pacific crew in Lowden in eastern Iowa.
Butler was employed by Armadillo Express, also known as Brown’s Crew Car. The company is hired by the Union Pacific Railroad to drop off and pick up train crews throughout the state.
Linda Jo Pickering, Jo Ann Holland and Pauline Sampson, widows, have filed wrongful death lawsuits seeing compensation against Butler, Union Pacific and Armadillo Express.