Northwood driver charged with homicide released from jail

Published 2:17 pm Friday, October 7, 2011

NORTHWOOD, Iowa — The Northwood man charged with the death of a 7-year-old girl attempting to board a school bus in May was released from the Worth County Jail on Thursday.

Aaron Gunderson

Jeff Greenwood, spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, said the man, Aaron Dwayne Gunderson, posted a $2,500 bond and was outfitted with a GPS device prior to being released.

Gunderson, 31, will be on pre-trial supervision with the Iowa Department of Corrections while awaiting his jury trial Dec. 7.

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He faces two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident resulting in death.

According to court documents, Gunderson was reportedly driving more than 60 mph on May 10 when he collided with young Kadyn Halverson of rural Kensett, who was walking to board a school bus.

The collision took place at 4336 Raven Ave. The school bus Kadyn was going to board was completely stopped and had its flashing red lights and stop arm activated.

Kadyn died at the scene.

Gunderson had been in jail since Sept. 14 when he was arrested and charged for the alleged crime.

He was being held on an $85,000 bail but requested Worth County District Court Judge Bryan McKinley lower his bond.

Greenwood said at a Sept. 30 hearing the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, who is prosecuting the case, requested bail of $40,000 while Gunderson asked to be released on his own recognizance.

McKinley ultimately ordered a $25,000 bail, with Gunderson being able to be released after posting a bond for 10 percent of that amount.