Oconomowoc man faces 10 felony counts after suspected OWI crash

 Posted on August 15, 2017 in DUI/OWI

Being involved in an wreck is a serious and tragic event. However, when a motorist is accused of a crime following a car accident, the matter's severity can increase significantly. If an officer believes that a driver was negligent or under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, for example, it is likely that the officer will take investigative steps based on those suspicions. This could mean forcing a driver to going through a sobriety test and a breath test. If the results of these tests reveal that a driver was intoxicated, then he or she may be hit with a drunk driving charge.

According to recent reports, a Wisconsin man is in this situation after he was recently charged with various felonies following an alleged drunk driving crash. According to police, the Oconomowoc man collided with a good Samaritan who had stopped to help a family change a flat tire. While helping the family along the side of Interstate 94 in Delafield, the 37-year-old accused individual allegedly crashed into the parked vehicle while the victim was under it.

The 48-year-old man who was helping the family change their tire died shortly after the crash. The van that was crashed into by the alleged drunk driver was carrying four children at the time of the crash. Authorities arrested the suspected drunk driver following the crash, charging him with 10 felony counts.

Based on reports, the man has four prior OWI convictions and was currently on bail for his fifth OWI at the time of this wreck. In addition to the homicide charge he faces in this accident, the man must contend with four charges related to operating while intoxicated causing injury, four counts of felony bail-jumping, four counts of driving with a prohibited alcohol concentration causing injury, and his sixth OWI charge.

An accident can result in serious charges being levied against an individual, especially if injuries were suffered in the wreck. The potential penalties that one could face may be significantly harsher if the accused offender has a record. Whether this is a motorist's first, second, or even sixth OWI charge, it is important to understand the defense options afforded to available to him or her. Asserting a strong criminal defense could help an accused individual obtain reduced charges, lesser penalties, or perhaps even dismissal of some or all of the charges against him or her. This could significantly reduce the negative impacts such charges could have on their personal and professional life.

Source: Lake Country Now, "Oconomowoc man pleads not guilty to homicide in crash that killed good Samaritan," Steven Martinez, July 21, 2017