Ankeny police: No charges in crash that injured 16 children in school pickup line

No charges will be filed against the person who drove through an after-school pickup line in March, injuring 16 students, Ankeny police say. According to a news release Thursday, the 76-year-old driver "mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while approaching the school pickup line, causing the vehicle to move forward into students waiting to be picked up."The crash happened on Marh 24 outside St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School.Authorities say all of the children who were injured have been treated and released from the hospital. "The Ankeny Police Department continues to keep the children who are still recovering, along with their families, classmates, school staff and the broader community in our thoughts," APD said in the release. Investigators conducted 32 interviews, executed search warrants, completed a mechanical inspection of the vehicle and submitted blood samples from the driver for laboratory testing to determine if the driver was impaired at the time of the collision, according to the release. Lab results did not support OWI charges."The completed case was presented to the Polk County Attorney’s Office for legal review and charge consideration," APD said in the release. "After reviewing all facts and evidence gathered during the investigation, it was determined there was no legal basis for criminal charges in this case. Because criminal charges are not being filed, the identity of the driver will not be released publicly." » Subscribe to KCCI's YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play