Nicholas Schneiderwendt, right, reacts as a jury finds him not guilty in connection with a fatal crash in the town of Deer Creek. (Image courtesy Outagamie County courts/Zoom)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A jury acquitted Nicholas Schneiderwendt Wednesday for a fatal traffic crash.
Schneiderwendt, 44, was charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle for the February 2023 crash at County D and Schweitzer Road in the town of Deer Creek. The victim was pinned under his truck, and died. The 45-year-old man is identified by his initials, W.A.S. Prosecutors alleged Schneiderwendt ran a stop sign, causing the crash.
The trial started Monday.
According to the criminal complaint:
“Nicholas confirmed he was traveling eastbound on Beech/Schweitzer crossing County Road D. Nicholas said he was slowing down/stopping for the stop sign like he always does and that he didn’t see anybody Nicholas said the last thing he remembered was looking both ways to make sure there was no traffic and he proceeded to crash. He reiterated he did not see anyone coming or other traffic. Nicholas said he doesn’t remember the impact and doesn’t even remember getting out of the truck after impact,” the complaint states.
Later, Schneiderwendt told again told police he didn’t remember much of what happened.
“Nick iterated that his stop was possibly a roll through and that he was moving at ‘snail speed’. Nick said as soon as the collision happened, ‘I don’t remember nothing’ and ‘I don’t know if I blacked out or not or what’,” the complaint states.
The investigation determined Schneiderwendt’s truck was traveling about 34 mph when it passed the stop sign, and the impact speed was about 40 mph.
“Trooper Schwarz’ technical analysis indicates the evidence supports Schneiderwendt did not stop at the stop sign on Beech Rd., at the intersection to Cty Tk D, which resulted in the crash. WAS, the driver of the Ford F350, sustained fatal injuries in the crash,” the complaint states.
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