Wrong-way driver 'would never intentionally cause this pain'

Benjamin Edward Beary was supposed to be celebrating his 26th birthday Monday.

On Friday night, the Knoxville, Iowa, man told a friend he was going to a West Des Moines bar to watch March Madness.

A few hours later, he was driving his Ford Taurus the wrong way on Interstate 80 when he crashed head-on into a Des Moines police SUV carrying two officers and their prisoner. Beary's vehicle burst into flames, and he died in the collision. The State medical examiner's office used dental records to confirm his identity.

The occupants of the SUV he struck — officers Carlos Puente-Morales and Susan Farrell and their prisoner, Tosha Nicole Hyatt — were all killed.

The crash left Beary's friends and families struggling to cope with the magnitude of the tragedy.

"Our pain at losing Ben, a beloved son and brother, is multiplied by the knowledge that this collision brought so much grief to others," Beary's family said in a statement released through an attorney Monday.

The Beary family offered their condolences and prayers to the families that lost loved ones, and also asked for privacy during their time of grief.

"We know he would never intentionally cause this pain," Beary's family wrote. "We hope that the police are able to piece together what happened next. But whatever information they find will not diminish the pain we feel at losing Ben at a young age. Nor will it lessen the grief for the families of Susan Farrell, Carlos Puente-Morales, and Tosha Nicole Hyatt."

Perhaps watched basketball

Sgt. Nathan Ludwig of the Iowa State Patrol said officials are trying to piece together a timeline from the night, using police dispatch calls and traffic camera video.

Officers aren't sure where Beary entered onto I-80,  Ludwig said.

Beary told his best friend, Kirk Keffer, also of Knoxville, that he was going to the Keg Stand in West Des Moines to watch NCAA basketball Friday night, Keffer said.

“I’d say he’s not good at direction. He’s bad with getting lost,” Keffer said. “That probably played a role into this whole thing.”

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Checkered driving record

Beary didn’t have any restrictions on his license at the time of the crash, confirmed Dennis Kleen with the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Court records show he had been arrested in the past for drinking problems, including driving while intoxicated. But authorities haven't said whether alcohol played a part in Saturday's fatal crash.

Court records show that in 2007, when he was 17, Beary was charged twice for driving while his license was suspended or revoked. It's unclear what prompted the initial suspension or revocation.

MORE: Questions linger in fatal I-80 crash

In July 2012, Beary was arrested for operating while intoxicated by University of Iowa police, court records show. His license was revoked for one year for refusing to provide the arresting officer with a sobriety test.

Beary spent two days in jail and paid a $1,250 fine, plus $2,707 in restitution and court costs and was ordered to participate in a 48-hour OWI program.

Knoxville police charged Beary with public intoxication in November 2014, his third such offense. He spent 10 days in jail and paid a $100 fine, court records show.

'A hard pill to swallow'

Keffer said he and Beary kindled a relationship in Little League baseball. Beary acted like he was indestructible, Keffer said.

“He’s the type of guy that he’s escaped death. … He’s rolled a car before, stuff like that where he could have got hurt and he walks away,” Keffer said.

Beary played soccer in high school and while attending William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Keffer said. He was quick and could run forever, he said.

They challenged each other, traveled to Colorado together, played golf and had debates.

Keffer said drinking was one of his friend’s demons, but he had been doing better since his OWI conviction.

“My heart is full of sorrow, and my head is full of anger," Keffer said.

“The reality is he killed three people. And that’s a hard pill to swallow. Not even knowing those two cops and that woman in the back of the car,” Keffer said, “it’s sad that it had to happen like this.”

Trying to find answers

Denyce Alexander of Knoxville drove around near the crash site Monday, trying to figure out how Beary ended up traveling the wrong way in traffic.

She said her children went to school with Beary, a well-liked Knoxville youth, and he worked at a Best Buy in West Des Moines.

“Everybody in Knoxville is pretty saddened, because they know in Ben’s heart, they know that Ben would not have wanted that,” Alexander said. “If you knew him, you’d know he was friends with everybody and well-liked.”

Beary’s godmother, Marcia Nichols, described him as a kind, happy person.

“Ben was just a great kid. I know it doesn’t seem like it today, but he was,” Nichols said.

“He was smart and had lots of friends, and he really cared about people,” she said. “This whole thing is just so tragic for all four families involved.”

Beary is survived by his parents, brother and sister, Nichols said.

“It’s a very close-knit family,” and they’re devastated by all four deaths, she said.

'Ben would never want that'

Jon Smith became close to Beary while coaching him in soccer for four years at Knoxville High School.

“What’s the worst thing about it is that somebody else got hurt, and Ben would never want that,” Smith said.

Smith described Beary as “a fantastic soccer player” who remained active on adult soccer teams in Knoxville after graduating from Knoxville High School.

Many people in the soccer community will miss Beary, Smith said. “Ben was very well-liked. … A lot of guys are hurting right now.”

Reporters Tim Meinch and Charly Haley contributed to this story. 

Iowa's wrong-way crashes

The four deaths Saturday pushed the total number of Iowa interstate fatalities over the past 10 years beyond 460, according to data provided by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Wrong-way crashes on interstates accounted for at least 28 of those fatalities and more than 140 injuries.

Nearly 160 wrong-way crashes have occurred on Iowa interstates during the past 10 years, according to the DOT data.

An additional 3,500 wrong-way crashes, with at least 137 other fatalities, have occurred on all Iowa roadways during that same time frame.