A Taylor County judge has set a cash bond of $50,000 for a man accused of killing a pedestrian and injuring another person while driving drunk.
42-year-old James Winchel of Sheldon is facing charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and causing injury for the November 29 crash near Gilman. Police say Winchel was driving at a high rate of speed toward members of a hunting party, who had just left the woods and were standing on a town road at the time.
Most of the hunters were able to get out of the way, but 52-year-old Juan Salinas of Roscoe, Illinois died at the scene. 53-year-old Fernando Salinas remains hospitalized at a Wausau hospital in serious condition.
Winchel was also hospitalized following the crash, but was jailed after he finished receiving treatment. He’s due back in court to formally face charges on January 7.
WSAU