A 25-year-old Little Suamicao man is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle as a result of a crash that killed a 48-year-old man also from Little Suamico.
Elijah Schanau faces up to 25 years in prison, a fine of $100,000 or both as a result of the April 5 crash.
He made his initial appearance in Oconto County Circuit Court on April 7, where his bail was set at $20,000 cash, court records show. Schanau posted his bail and was released the same day, according to jail records.
He is scheduled to return for an adjourned initial appearance April 20.
According to the criminal complaint, Schanau was southbound in his pickup truck on Old 41 Road near Vermeiren Road in the Town of Pensaukee when he crashed into the rear of the UTV. Oconto County deputies were first notified of the crash about 3:26 a.m.
The UTV driver was found unresponsive under the vehicle. He later died from his injuries.
A pickup truck with “heavy disabling front end damage” and deployed airbags was discovered up the road from the UTV, according to the complaint. A car was parked behind the truck. Schanau’s father was standing outside the car and identified Schanau as the driver of the truck. Schanau was sitting inside his father’s car.
Schanau told deputies he was at a bean bag tournament in Oconto, had a few alcoholic drinks and was rounding a corner when he hit a UTV that was in his lane. Schanau said he didn’t have time to react because of the corner.
A preliminary breath test put Schanau’s blood alcohol content at 0.238%, about three times the legal limit.
Officers said the scene appeared to show the UTV struck the end of the guardrail of the bridge over the Pensaukee River and got stuck. After being struck by the truck, the UTV was pushed across the bridge and tipped onto the driver’s side. The truck continued pushing the UTV for several hundred feet before they separated.
The victim’s wife said her husband messaged her earlier in the night and said he needed help. She and her son went to search for him and came across the accident scene.
