News Flash

On April 12th, 2014, at 9:20 p.m., the Dubuque Emergency Communications Center received a complaint of a suspicious person with a flashlight walking around a house in the 1600 block of Washington Street. The primary responding officer arrived within 3 minutes, and a back-up officer arrived 1 minute after the first. Officers located a vehicle in the immediate area they believed might be involved and conducted a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Washington Street. The vehicle was a 2012 Toyota Tacoma, registered to Kevin K. Keehner of Dubuque. The driver of the vehicle initially provided officers with a false name, however as the investigation progressed, she was correctly identified as Alexandra A. Benson, 22, of 506 Valley Dr. #3, Decorah, IA. After verifying Benson’s true identity, officers also learned of an active arrest warrant for Benson, issued out of Delaware County. Officers ordered Benson out of the truck but she refused and instead fled westbound on 17th Street. Benson ran the red light at White Street and attempted to do so again at Central Avenue where she collided with a southbound vehicle operated by Chansey S. Hendren, 21, of Dubuque. Officers were unable to engage Bensen in a pursuit before the crash occurred. Hendren was driving a 2006 Volkswagon Passat, registered to Amy M. McDonough of Dubuque. A third, legally parked vehicle (2005 Chevrolet Silverado), owned by John R. Altman of Dubuque, was also struck on 17th Street. Hendren and her passenger were able to escape their vehicle as it caught fire, and later declined medical attention. Benson and her passenger, Kirstianna F. Siegert, 22, of 12300 N. Cascade Rd., Dubuque, were trapped in the truck as Police and Fire personnel attempted to extinguish the fire. Siegert was ultimately able to escape the truck with assistance from emergency personnel, while Benson had to be extricated. Both Benson and Siegert were transported to Mercy Hospital. Benson was later transferred to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics where she succumbed to her injuries today, April 17th, and was declared deceased.