A Merrill woman has been arrested, following a lengthy investigation into a crash which killed two of three passengers riding with her. Ashley Baumann was taken into custody Thursday afternoon. Police Chief Ken Neff said the State Patrol crash reconstruction experts came to the same conclusion as his department’s investigation, and they took the evidence to the District Attorney on Thursday.
Baumann faces nine separate charges including homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a vehicle, and reckless driving. Investigators believe the 24 year-old Baumann was responsible for the crash that killed two of the three friends riding with her June 7th. Jessica Hartwig, 33, and 31 year-old Misty Glisch of Merrill died in the crash. Jerrica Woller, 29, survived.
“Everybody suffers from this one,” said Neff. “It’s an unfortunate thing that decisions were made to drive that car, and drive it the way it was driven, resulting in this terrible crash.”
Baumann is in the Lincoln County Jail awaiting an initial court appearance Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
Larry Lee, WSAU