On Aug. 8, 2012, a Wisconsin man was driving a car erratically on state Highway 23 when he collided with another vehicle head-on, killing a 22-year-old woman. Just prior to the accident, witnesses say that he ran a stop sign and drove off the road, maneuvering in and out of a ditch before attempting to pass a semi-truck.
The man has now been charged by Sauk County prosecutors with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle related to a crash and is facing up to 10 years in prison. In a hospital interview following the crash, the defendant said that he believed that he was being chased by demons. His family believes that he has an undiagnosed mental illness.
Going back to 2005, the man has a history of abuse and threats toward his mother. According to court records, she reported that he has physically abused her by pushing her, twisting her arm and hitting her. He has vandalized her home and threatened her life. She had to resort to hiding in the basement to protect herself. The mother eventually obtained a restraining order against her son.
Frequently, the victim's family is the forgotten party in a fatal car accident. The surviving family may have to face the pain involved in the loss of their loved one. They also have to endure the loss of wages that the victim may have provided to support the family. In addition, they have unexpected medical expenses ans funeral costs for their family member. An attorney may be able to guide the family through the process of pursuing financial compensation for their losses.
Source: Portage Daily Register, "Man charged in fatal accident said he saw demons", Tim Damos, September 06, 2013
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