La Center couple killed in motorcycle-car collision

A La Center couple were killed when they were struck on their motorcycles by a 21-year-old driver late Saturday night.

Steven W. Dodd, 35, and Karey Brown, 34, were pronounced dead at the scene.

“They were just a couple hundred feet from where they lived,” said Sgt. John Horch of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Horch said the motorcyclists were eastbound in the 1400 block of Northwest La Center Road about 11:49 p.m. and David Van Soest of La Center was westbound on the road. The initial investigation indicated that Van Soest had crossed the divider line, Horch said.

Van Soest was arrested on two counts of vehicular homicide. He was in the Clark County Jail on Sunday night with bail not allowed.

Van Soest and a passenger, whose name was not available, were treated for injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, Horch said.

Referring to Dodd and Brown, “They were experienced motorcycle riders,” Horch said. He said they had both been wearing the appropriate safety gear.

“Alcohol and speed appear to be a factor in this accident,” Horch wrote in a press release.