STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Eric Labahn

An Illinois man accused of driving while intoxicated and causing the death of a passenger in Oneida County last weekend is free on a $10,000 surety bond. Eric C. Labahn, 21, of Mount Prospect, Ill., made an initial appearance in Oneida County Circuit Court June 13, and is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, the Chevy Trail Blazer Labahn was driving along Military Road in Three Lakes left the road and hit a tree, killing his passenger, Austin L. Lockwood, 23, also of Illinois.

A Three Lakes police officer who responded to a 911 call approximately 1:40 a.m. June 10 stated in his report that when he arrived on the scene he could see that Labahn, who was standing near his vehicle, was injured, and then determined that the passenger was deceased. Labahn reportedly told the officer he and Lockwood had “some” to drink, and were at a nearby bar for about 20 minutes, and that he swerved to miss a deer. The officer stated he could smell the odor of alcohol when he spoke to Labahn.

The officer noted in the criminal complaint that Lockwood was pinned in the passenger seat of the vehicle “because the vehicle had hit the tree with such force that it crushed the entire dash and door onto Lockwood,” and that it was “impossible to open the passenger side door and the door was almost half way into the center of the vehicle.”

Labahn was transported by ambulance to the Eagle River Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. Labahn reportedly refused a blood test, but a search warrant for the test was obtained and his blood was drawn and Labahn was arrested. His next court appearance is July 9.