A Milwaukee man has been charged with homicide in an alleged drunken driving accident that left one person dead and another injured.
Daniel O. Grostad, 40, faces six charges related to the death of Erick R. Smith. Grostad made his initial appearance in Oconto County Circuit Court on June 8.
According to a criminal complaint, Smith was injured when Grostad lost control of his Dodge Magnum while driving north on County Road T in Doty about 11 p.m. Monday, May 11.
Smith was seated in the front passenger seat and was wearing a seat belt, officials said. Emergency crews helped to extricate him from the vehicle.
Smith died at a Wausau hospital on May 19 due to injuries he sustained in the accident, according to the report issued to law enforcement from doctors at the hospital.
A rear passenger in the vehicle, Aaron Omdahl, was treated for a cut on the right side of his head and also complained of abdominal pain, the complaint stated.
Grostad refused medical treatment for a cut on the top of his head and a scrape by his temple.
It was Grostad’s third arrest for operating while intoxicated. Online records show a 2009 arrest in Milwaukee County. He told authorities the other arrests occurred in 2007. Lab tests indicated a blood alcohol concentration of .175; the legal limit is .08.
According to the criminal complaint, Grostad’s vehicle was unrecognizable. It had entered a steep ditch at Boot Lake Road, went airborne and snapped off several trees before coming to rest in a wooded area. The vehicle also appeared to have rolled several times, due to the extensive damage is sustained.
Grostad told authorities he was driving from Antigo to Townsend to vacation.
A loaded handgun was found in the vehicle, and Grostad told authorities he had a concealed-carry permit for the weapon. Oconto County authorities did not find registered owner information for the gun, according to the complaint.
Grostad was charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle; homicide by the use of vehicle with prohibited alcohol concentration; operating while under the influence, causing injury, second subsequent offense; prohibited alcohol concentration, causing injury, second subsequent offense; homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle; and reckless driving, causing injury.
The two most severe homicide charges carry penalties of not more than 40 years imprisonment, while the homicide by negligent operation carries a penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
The court set a $15,000 cash bond, with conditions of no driving, no contact with the victim or victim’s family, and absolute sobriety. A preliminary hearing is July 13.
