Iowa Judge Charged After Fatal Crash Involving Two Pedestrians, One Day After Winning Reelection

An Iowa judge is facing felony charges after allegedly striking two pedestrians with her Honda CR-V while looking down at her cellphone, killing one and seriously injuring the other. Lynn Poschner, 45, was arrested on November 4, 2026, following an investigation into the September 25 collision in Urbandale, Iowa. Her arrest came just one day after voters had approved retaining her for another six-year term on the bench, adding an unexpected twist to a case that has drawn widespread attention.

The crash happened at approximately 9:17 p.m. near the intersection of 86th Street and Northwest Aurora Avenue. According to police records, Poschner had been driving home after attending a book club with friends when her vehicle struck two people crossing the roadway. She called 911 after the collision. When officers arrived, they found a man who was conscious and able to speak, while a woman was unconscious but still breathing. Both victims were taken for medical treatment.

The woman was later identified as 60-year-old Jasmira Kadic, an Urbandale resident. Despite receiving medical care, she died from her injuries on October 28, more than a month after the crash. The second pedestrian survived, although reports described the injuries as serious. Poschner allegedly told responding officers that she had not seen the pedestrians and initially believed the impact might have involved a deer or a dog.

Investigators later obtained a search warrant and examined evidence surrounding the collision. According to the warrant application, Poschner acknowledged that she had looked down at her cellphone shortly before the crash. She allegedly explained that an audiobook had stopped playing through her vehicle’s speakers and that she had reached down to press something on the phone. She reportedly could not say with certainty whether she had been talking or texting at the time, but admitted looking at the screen. Investigators also examined the phone’s activity as part of their inquiry.

Poschner was charged with homicide by vehicle and serious injury by vehicle, both felony offenses under Iowa law. She was released after posting bond. The charges relate to the fatal collision and the injuries suffered by the surviving pedestrian; they do not amount to a conviction, and the case will proceed through the court system. Reports also indicate that her next court appearance was scheduled for November 11, 2026.

The timing of the arrest drew additional attention because Poschner had won a retention vote on November 3, one day before she was taken into custody. Election results showed 95,762 votes in favor of keeping her in office, compared with 43,313 against. Poschner had served as a district associate judge in Iowa’s Fifth Judicial District since 2018. The investigation remains ongoing, and the legal proceedings will determine the consequences of the allegations arising from the September crash.