Arraignment set for fatal OWI crash near Janesville
JANESVILLE--A Janesville woman accused of causing a fatal car crash while intoxicated is scheduled next month for arraignment.
Court Commissioner Charles Holznecht this morning bound over Tara A. Carlson, 39, of 1109 Harmony Circle N.W., Janesville. Carlson faces charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, operating while intoxicated and causing injury by intoxicated driving.
Her arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 5.
According to court documents, Carlson on Aug. 18 was driving north on Highway 11 and failed to stop at County B on Janesville's west side.
Carlson’s car struck a car driven by Randall J. Owens, 64, Footville. Owens and two passengers were injured, as was Carlson.
A fourth passenger in Owens' car, James M. Menard, 64, Chicago, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Carlson was transported by helicopter to University Hospital, Madison.
She told police she had four beers at a wedding reception in Beloit before the crash, according to the complaint. She said she left the reception after a fight with her boyfriend and remembers nothing before or after the crash.
Carlson faces 25 years in prison on the homicide charge and up to three years in jail for the misdemeanor causing injury charges.
