Almost 2 ½ years after a fatal incident in Greene County, the charge against the suspect has been dropped, after it was determined that he wasn’t competent to stand trial.

According to court documents, 74-year-old Robert Kinnick of Grand Junction was originally charged with a Class D Felony for leaving the scene of an accident-resulting in death.  Iowa State Patrol investigated the incident that happened on December 15, 2020 when Kinnick was driving a truck and was heading north on 16th Street North in Grand Junction just after 8pm. 

The victim, 46-year-old Travis Fincel of Grand Junction, was walking in the same direction on the east side of the street. Kinnick struck Fincel and Kinnick reportedly left the scene and was found at the Casey’s General Store in Grand Junction. Fincel was flown to Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines where he later died of his injuries on January 7, 2021.

Online court records show that after the charge was filed on January 13, 2022, a Neuropsychological Consultation Report was conducted at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. Following the report and other considerations, Greene County District Court Judge Joseph McCarville determined that the charge against Kinnick was to be dismissed.

Court documents show that on May 17th, the neuropsychological report showed that Kinnick was suffering from moderate to severe dementia and was determined to not be competent to stand trial, and the report concluded that Kinnick’s mental impairment would not result in the restoration of his competency. Judge McCarville also noted in his decision that Kinnick is residing in an assisted living facility in Coon Rapids and that will unlikely change, along with him not being a threat to the public.