Jared Parks
Jared Parks
18 YOA
DOB: October 5, 1990
Interstate 35/80
Urbandale, IA
Polk County
May 11, 2009
Jared Parks, 18, was found dead on Interstate 35/80 near the Beaver Avenue Bridge in Polk County, Iowa, on Monday, May 11, 2009. He’d been hit by at least two semi tractor-trailers.
Polk County in Iowa
Troopers were called to the scene at 11:46 p.m.
The driver of the first big rig said the boy was lying on the roadway and looked unconscious in the moments before he was hit, and the medical examiner ruled out a fall from an overpass.
Two of the tractor-trailer drivers waited for troopers and were questioned at the scene. Troopers believe a third truck may also have run over the teen.
Polk County Medical Examiner Dr. Gregory Schmunk said that Parks died from blunt force trauma and his injuries were consistent with being hit by a truck. Schmunk said there was nothing to indicate that Parks was injured before the crash or that he might have jumped from the bridge.
Investigators never found Jared’s cell phone, and his wallet, earrings and tennis shoes were also missing. They have ruled the death as suspicious.
Jared’s parents, Tammy and Chad Parks of Urbandale, said Jared was with his girlfriend the night of his death but left her house shortly after 9:30 p.m. He didn’t take his car and told his girlfriend he’d be right back. It was the last time anyone heard from him.
Parks had graduated from Urbandale High School early, but was going to be a part of the commencement ceremony.
The Department of Public Safety is trying to put together the final hours of Parks’ life and want help learning where he was between 9:30 p.m. and midnight on May 11.
“As part of any investigation, the more information we have the better we are able to make a determination of cause and manner of death,” said Kevin Winker, DCI assistant director. “Right now, we don’t have that. So any information that we would have that anybody is willing to provide in reference to Jared Parks would be helpful in completing a thorough investigation.”
The Wednesday night following Parks’ death, hundreds gathered at the Bridge Church in Johnston for a vigil and to remember Jared. After several minutes of silence, they lit hundreds of candles. The teen’s funeral was held the following Monday.
Jared’s parents believe there’s someone who knows how their son ended up in the middle of the interstate, and have offered a $10,000 reward for information. They are asking anyone with information about their son’s death to come forward.
A fund also has been set up for donations that can be made at any Wells Fargo bank.
“They did say definitely his injuries were not consistent with coming from the bridge, so he didn’t fall. He didn’t jump. He didn’t get pushed from the bridge, his body was put on the road,” said Tammy Parks.
Jared sent his mom a couple of text messages around 9:30 p.m. that night saying he would be home around 11:30 p.m. The family said from that point on there were few calls or texts to or from Jared’s phone.
Jared’s parents said investigators were able to track the phone from a cell tower near where Jared’s body was found, but it was never recovered. His parents believe someone may have tossed it out.
Jared Parks was born October 5, 1990.
The Iowa DCI does have at least one theory about what happened to Parks but needs more proof. They continue to work the case and also are asking for the public’s help.
Anyone with information, no matter how small, is urged to call the Iowa State Patrol at 515-323-4360 or Polk County Crime Stoppers at 515-223-1400.
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