An Oshkosh man accused of causing a traffic crash which killed an elderly man and seriously injured his wife is due back in court Monday. A $50,000 cash bond was ordered for 57 year-old William Doemel, who faces six felony charges including causing death and injury by OWI, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Winnebago County investigators said Doemel was driving an SUV which struck a van head-on in the town of Nekimi in December. The driver of the other vehicle, 80 year-old Robert Zentner, was killed, and his wife broke seven ribs, a knee, and a wrist. Doemel’s blood alcohol level was .285 – or about three-and-a-half times the legal limit of .08. Doemel’s license had been suspended due to a previous drunk driving conviction from 2011.
In addition to his Monday court appearance, Doemel is scheduled for preliminary hearing on Thursday, when a judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to order a trial.