RACINE — A Union Grove woman pleaded guilty Friday in connection to a 2022 rollover crash that killed a Kenosha man.
Kristi Lichtenwalner, 38, was charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, homicide by use of vehicle with prohibited alcohol concentration, operating a vehicle while under the influence and operating with prohibited alcohol concentration.
She pleaded guilty to homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle. The second and third counts were dismissed but read into the court record. The last count was dismissed on a prosecutor’s motion.
Lichtenwalner originally pleaded not guilty to all counts Nov. 1, 2023.
According to a criminal complaint, Racine County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded about 10:15 p.m. Oct. 2, 2022, to the 17500 block of Durand Avenue after a report of a single vehicle crash.
When deputies arrived, they saw a Cadillac SRX on its roof and a man lying in the grass.
The car reportedly belonged to the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to RCSO Investigator Brady Winger testified during a preliminary hearing in November 2023 that Lichtenwalner had “slurred speech and smelled like intoxicants.â€
Winger testified that a purse containing Lichtenwalner’s ID and a bottle of whiskey were found on the driver’s side of the car.
Lichtenwalner reportedly told officers that she had been drinking that night, but claimed that the man had been driving.
Winger also testified that Lichtenwalner had a 0.245 blood alcohol concentration and tested positive for amphetamines and cannabinoids.
Winger said investigators obtained video that reportedly showed Lichtenwalner getting into the driver’s side of the car at a liquor store about 9:32 p.m. the night of the crash.
A blood stain also was found on the driver’s side airbag that matched DNA from Lichtenwalner, according to Winger’s testimony.
Lichtenwalner is scheduled for a sentencing hearing Oct. 6.
Originally published on , part of the .
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