DES MOINES, Iowa — WHO-TV in Des Moines reports a semi tractor-trailer driver from Michigan accused of hitting and killing a tow-truck driver in 2023, was sentenced to prison, Thursday. A Polk County judge sentenced 55-year-old Dmytro Prysich to up to 25 years in prison, and ordered him to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of Joshua Villa, of Adel,  and to participate in a victim-offender dialogue if the victim’s family chooses to do so.

On the night of November 12, 2023 Prysich was driving a semi on Interstate 80 near the 86th Street exit in Urbandale, when he struck the 45-year-old Villa, a tow-truck driver, who was in the process of towing another vehicle. Joshua Villa died from his injuries at the scene.

Prysich was later charged with homicide by vehicle – OWI, leaving the scene of a deadly accident, and failure to change lane upon approach to emergency stationary vehicles – death. In October 2024 a Polk County jury found Prysich guilty of vehicular homicide while under the influence, but acquitted him of leaving the scene of an accident causing death.