A 30-year-old Elkhorn man died in a fatal car accident that police say was caused by a convicted felon. A Palmyra man was arrested for felony homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle after his blood alcohol breath test returned results of more than twice the legal limit.
The fatal truck crash occurred on a Tuesday night at highways A and H in Sugar Creek, Wisconsin. Walworth County deputies say the 21-year-old driver was traveling southbound on Highway H. Reports say the vehicle ran through a stop sign at the Highway A intersection and struck a Dodge Ram pickup. Deputies found the pickup overturned. The truck driver was pronounced dead at the accident scene.
The car driver was arrested and taken to Lakeland Medical Center. The driver was later airlifted to a Milwaukee hospital, where he was treated and later released.
A conviction on the DWI homicide-by-vehicle charge carries a maximum sentence of 31 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The charges were raised to a felony repeater status because of a prior burglary conviction.
An additional misdemeanor charge of causing death while driving with a suspended license carries a possible, additional nine-month prison term and an extra $10,000 fine. The accused was placed on $200,000 bond.
When he was arrested, the car driver told deputies that he had been drinking. A Breathalyzer test conducted at the accident scene showed his BAC to be 0.178.
As can be seen from this case, drunk driving can cause immense damage and devastation. This tragic accident shows just how important it is that Wisconsin drivers operate their vehicles responsibly.
Source: Lake Geneva Regional News & Resorter, “Suspected drunken driving crash kills man,” Rob Ireland, Aug. 30, 2011
