Rosalie Polsin (Photo courtesy: Outagamie County Jail)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Rosalie Polsin, 78, was convicted Monday of driving the wrong way on Interstate 41, causing the crash that killed one person.
Polsin pleaded guilty to one count of homicide by negligent use of a vehicle for the Nov. 4, 2024, crash which killed Austin LaVicka Luehring, 27. Sentencing is scheduled for April 7.
The maximum penalty would be 10 years in the prison system.
Outagamie County District Attorney Melinda Tempelis said the state will ask for two years in prison, four years of extended supervision, and eight hours of community service each year on the victim’s birth and death dates.
The defense will be able to argue for the sentence it deems appropriate.
Police responded to the crash in the southbound lanes of I-41, near Lynndale Drive, about 10:20 p.m. that night. Polsin was driving northbound in the southbound lanes, according to the complaint.
Police interviewed her at the hospital after the crash.
“Trooper Gorski started his interview asking Rosalie if she remembered the night of the accident. She stated she realized immediately upon getting onto the ramp that she was going the wrong way. She stated that she was not able to find a place to tum [sic] around due to the walls from construction in the area. She stated she was aware of the other vehicles that were coming at her and looked for a crossover but was unable to find one. She stated she did not remember attempting to slow down prior to the collision,” the complaint says.
“Rosalie stated she knew she was on College Avenue prior to going the wrong way. When asked what road she had turned onto she initially did not seem to know, but when asked if she knew she had gotten onto I41 she stated she was aware. She stated she believed she was going 45 to 50 miles per hour because she was scared from the vehicles going past her. She stated that she wished she had turned around immediately on the ramp when she realized she was going the wrong way,” the complaint states.
The victim’s mother, Christina LaVicka, and Austin’s friends have launched a program, called “497 Austin Alert,” to alert drivers to highway dangers.
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