Felony charges filed following fatal crash

A Vilas County woman appeared in Oneida County Circuit Court last week on two felony charges stemming from a two-vehicle collision that killed one person and injured another May 5.
Linda Boebel, 66, of Arbor Vitae, made her initial appearance June 15 on charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and causing injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
According to the criminal complaint, Boebel’s SUV was traveling on State Highway 70 when it crossed the center line and struck another SUV head-on. A male passenger in Boebel’s vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The operator of the other vehicle suffered serious injuries including multiple broken bones. According to their reports, law enforcement officers noted the odor of intoxicants coming from Boebel and observed a damaged bottle of Southern Comfort and damaged cans of Carbliss vodka cocktail in her vehicle. However, during the June 15 bond hearing, defense attorney Dennis Melowski told the court that Boebel’s blood alcohol content at the time of the crash tested at 0.032, well below Wisconsin’s legal limit of 0.08. He noted that additional drug testing is pending, but said he does not expect those results to show anything beyond prescribed medications.
Melowski argued for a signature bond, noting that Boebel has no prior criminal or traffic record, owns property in the area, and was herself seriously injured in the crash. He said she is currently confined to a wheelchair and is receiving treatment at Aspirus in Wausau, where she faces a lengthy road of physical therapy.
Judge Mike Schiek set a $25,000 signature bond with several conditions, including absolute sobriety, no possession or consumption of intoxicants, no contact with premises licensed to serve alcohol, and no contact with the family of the decedent (who is not identified in the complaint) or the other party injured in the crash.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 22 at 10:45 a.m.
If convicted, Boebel faces more than 20 years in prison.