GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A preliminary hearing was postponed Monday for the alleged drunken driver who is accused of running a red light, causing the crash which killed Chloe Bishop, 17, and injured her father.
Douglas Proehl, 69, faces charges homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, and operating while intoxicated causing injury for the Jan. 30 crash at Lombardi Avenue and Holmgren Way in Ashwaubenon.
His attorney, Sarvan Singh, says he still needs to meet with his client, and also wants him to appear in person for the preliminary hearing. The hearing was rescheduled for next Monday.
According to the criminal complaint, “PROEHL stated that he was with his wife at a restaurant somewhere on Main Street. When PROEHL was asked which restaurant, he started to mumble even worse and seemed to become confused, as if he was searching for an answer. PROEHL was asked if he knew what time he was with his wife and he stated that he did not even know what time it was now. PROEHL stated that the beers that he had were regular tall beers.”
Proehl was taken to Ashwaubenon Public Safety garage a few blocks away for the field sobriety tests. Officers detected several signs of intoxication, according to the complaint.
“The last test conducted was the One Leg Stand Test. Douglas became more boisterous and said, “I don’t really give a (expletive). Let’s knock off the (expletive). If you feel as though I’m incapable of driving, let’s do it now.” Douglas mentioned that he wanted to talk to a lawyer and refused to complete the One Leg Stand Test,” the complaint states. He was then arrested.
At the hospital, he refused to allow a blood draw, so a warrant was issued and it was completed. No results are cited in the complaint.
Proehl had a previous OWI conviction in 1992 in Florida, according to authorities. That’s on top of an unresolved 2022 OWI case in Wisconsin that we have previously reported.
Ashwaubenon Public Safety Captain Brian Amenson says he’s not sure if Bishop’s death could have been prevented if that case had been concluded more quickly.
“There’s just a lot of variables as to timing,” said Amenson.
Amenson says if there was an earlier conviction, it’s possible any driving restrictions placed on Proehl could have expired by now. Plus, he says there’s no telling whether Proehl would have followed them had they still been in place.
“That’s the sad thing about it,” said Amenson. “A lot of the individuals, especially with numerous prior offenses, they don’t have a driver’s license but they’re still out driving.”
While at the hospital, Proehl again commented on the crash.
“‘They drove in front of me and I was like you got to be kidding.’ Douglas continued to utter, ‘They didn’t leave me any time at that intersection.’ It should be noted, Douglas’ speech was slow, heavy, and slurred while he was speaking with me. Douglas uttered, ‘I was just coming back from [a business].’ Douglas continued to utter that he just got the truck approximately two months ago. Douglas uttered, ‘I just forgot,’ and then stopped talking briefly before continuing to utter, ‘I just thought I would never be involved in something like this ever.’ I advised Douglas if he wanted to talk further, I could read his Miranda Rights to him. Douglas replied, ‘Just let it go. Whatever happens, happens.’,” the complaint states.
An officer described the crash.
“The video shows that (Bishop)’s vehicle was in the left turn only lane on the westbound side of the intersection waiting for traffic to clear, with a green light for east and westbound traffic on Lombardi Avenue. The light changes to yellow and vehicles are slowing down and stopping in both east and westbound lanes. (Bishop)’S vehicle was in the intersection waiting to complete his turn and PROEHL’s truck is seen in lane one of the eastbound lanes, traveling at a noticeably higher rate of speed, approaching the intersection and is approximately two car lengths behind the intersection median curb end, when the light turns red. PROEHL’s truck was approximately two car lengths prior to entering the intersection when the light turned red and did not show brake lights until just prior to striking (Bishop) ‘s vehicle. It would have been difficult for (Bishop) to see PROEHL’s truck approaching since there was a vehicle in the eastbound left turn only lane, which would have been directly in front and slightly to the left of (Bishop), blocking that field of (Bishop) ‘s vision.”
A witness also described Proehl as going through the red light, the complaint states.
Danny Bishop suffered multiple broken ribs in the crash. He offered this account of the crash.
“(Bishop) advised the light was ‘stale’ yellow, so he attempted to turn to clear the intersection before it turned red when he observed a large black truck traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Lombardi Avenue approaching the intersection in his direction. (Bishop) stated he could not estimate how fast the truck was going. (Bishop) advised he attempted to accelerate quickly but was struck by the truck on the passenger side of the vehicle. I asked (Bishop) if he could hear any brakes squealing or anything else before the crash. (Bishop) stated he could not recall hearing anything before the crash,” the complaint states.
Bishop told police he had not been drinking, but smoked marijuana the previous day. He did not appear to be under the influence to the officer, according to the complaint.
A GoFundMe account was established to help the Bishop family.
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