Waterloo man sentenced for insurance claim in crash after fleeing state trooper

Apr. 10—WATERLOO — A Waterloo man who crashed his car while fleeing state troopers in 2021 has been sentenced to probation for submitting an insurance claim for the wreck.

Investigators with the Iowa Insurance Division's Fraud Bureau said Khalil Justin Crawley allegedly told his mother's insurance carrier that the vehicle was going 65 mph when it slid on ice and veered into a ditch near Jewell.

Liberty Mutual Insurance paid Crawley's mother $9,895 in benefits and the city of Jewell $1,000 for medical costs. Almost a year later, the insurer realized Crawley had been involved in a pursuit and was driving recklessly when he crashed, according to court records.

Documents allege Crawley was going 92 mph in a Volkswagen CC when the Iowa State Patrol attempted to pull him over in Hamilton County on Jan. 16, 2021. The chase allegedly reached speeds of up to 138 mph in a 55 mph zone before the car crashed and rolled, records state.

Crawley was injured, and the front-seat passenger was ejected during the collision. He was cited for speeding and failure to yield.

Following an Insurance Division investigation, Crawley was arrested for insurance fraud in November 2023. He pleaded to a reduced charge of third-degree theft, a misdemeanor, and on March 22 was granted a deferred judgment, meaning the case will be removed from his record if he completes up to two years of probation.

He was also ordered to pay restitution.