Criminal charges have been brought against an Oconto man in connection with a crash last summer that killed a woman who was riding with him on his motorcycle.
A criminal complaint was filed Feb. 21 in Oconto County Circuit Court charging Austin Scott Laakonen, 21, Oconto, with homicide by use of a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor possession of THC, in connection with the fatal crash on U.S. Highway 41 on June 30.
Laakonen was driving north on Highway 41 just south of County Road W in the Town of Little River with his passenger, Aubrey Williams, 19, also of Oconto.
He began to pull into the left lane just as an SUV came up from behind, and the larger vehicle clipped the motorcycle with its right front fender, according to the criminal complaint. Both riders were thrown onto the pavement.
Life-saving measures were performed on Williams at the scene, but she died at the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
As is standard in the case of a fatal accident, a blood draw was taken from Laakonen but showed no evidence of alcohol use, according to the complaint. Test results that did not arrive until Jan. 18 indicated the presence of THC in his system.
Laakonen was scheduled to make an initial appearance April 10 before Judge Michael Judge.
Categories
