A 71-year-old man is facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter after a farm vehicle crash earlier this year near Parnell.

Marlin Meyer of Ravenwood was charged with the class C felony Wednesday in Nodaway County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, on April 24, Virgina Burns, 60 of Parnell was driving a 2001 Tahoe southbound on MO 46 and Meyer was driving a 2011 Case IH Steiger northbound. The patrol said the crash took place around 5:40 a.m. when the farm implement being pulled by the tractor crossed the center line of the roadway and Burns’ vehicle hit the implement. Burns was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a grand jury indictment, Meyer is accused of driving his farm implement on the highway blocking both lanes of traffic which resulted in Burns’ death when her vehicle hit the implement.

Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice said the charge against Meyer comes after a three-month long investigation and communication with the victim’s family.

“The amount of investigation we put into it to make sure we knew what we thought we knew,” Rice said. “Also, speaking with the family of Virginia and letting them know what we wanted to do…They’re supportive of our efforts to pursue the charges.  More than anything, I just wanted their blessing.”

Meyer was arrested Wednesday and is currently out on $10,000 bail. An arraignment has been scheduled for September 11.

The prosecutor’s office said, if convicted, the range punishment for a class C felony is imprisonment for three to 10 years; or by a fine not to exceed $10,000 or both.