A former Lakewood man pleaded not guilty Nov. 21 to homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and other charges in the Sept. 8 head-on crash that killed a Lake Tomahawk woman.
The crash claimed the life of Lisa Marie Neitzel, 52, and seriously injured her daughter, Kaley Violet Neitzel, 15, who was driving the car, and her husband, Ronald Neitzel, 54.
Zackery Dale Wimber, 30, Fond du Lac, appeared at the hearing via video from a state prison. At the time of the fatal crash, he was under extended supervision after serving a prison sentence for possession with intent to deliver amphetamine and narcotic drugs and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony. His parole was revoked after the Oconto County charges were filed.
The crash occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on state Highway 32-64 near Sparkys Road in the Town of Mountain. According to an Oconto County Sheriff’s Department traffic report, Wimber’s southbound vehicle “was swerving all over the southbound lane,” crossed the center line and crashed head-on into the Neitzel vehicle.
Online court records show that a week before the fatal crash in Oconto County, Wimber had been ticketed in Sheboygan County for driving without a valid license.
He is charged in Oconto County Circuit Court with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle, two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and causing injury (second or subsequent offense), possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony, driving or operating a vehicle without consent, as well as a misdemeanor count of causing death by driving while his license was revoked.
Wimber waived his right to a preliminary hearing before entering not guilty pleas Nov. 21. After defense attorney Bradley Schraven said they were still awaiting the results of blood tests from the State Crime Lab, Judge Michael Judge scheduled a pre-trial conference for Feb. 13.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
Fatal crash suspect pleads not guilty
