In neighboring Dodge County, the Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Team (CIT) has completed its investigation of the fatal crash on County Highway G at Well Rd. on September 27, 2015. After completing that investigation charges of “Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle” and “Possession of Drug Paraphernalia” have been requested of the Dodge County District Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s office is in the process of filing a criminal complaint for those charges.
The investigation by the CIT revealed that the driver of the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, Cody Buechel, had inhaled “dust off” minutes prior to driving and becoming involved in the motor vehicle crash that led to the death of 17-year-old Lukas Jaeger. The investigation showed that Buechel’s truck was traveling east on Mill Street approaching Beaver Dam Road in the Village of Lowell. The truck traveled past the intersection, turned around, and drove up on the front lawn of a residence on the corner between a pine tree and the residence itself. The vehicle continued to travel northbound on Beaver Dam Road which turns into Highway G. This took place just before the collision occurred on Highway G near Well Road. Also located within the vehicle were two smoking devices which are commonly used for smoking marijuana along with a can of “dust off” which was on the floor of the truck.
The CIT also discovered that the northbound pickup truck crossed over the center line and drove down completely into the southbound lane and subsequently into the southbound gravel shoulder on that west side of the road before striking the victim, who was a pedestrian. The vehicle continued down Highway G and crashed into a culvert on the northbound (east) side of highway G.
There will be no further information released at this time by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office pending the criminal proceedings in Dodge County Circuit Court. Further information will be included in the criminal complaint which will be filed with the Dodge County Circuit Courts later today. As always, defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.