OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A motorist was convicted for a fatal drunken driving crash, and will be sentenced July 29.
Travis Ragen, 33, pleaded no contest Wednesday to homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle for the November 2019 crash which killed Melissa Cota.
Ragen was also convicted of a bail jumping charge, while multiple other counts were dismissed, court records show.
According to the criminal complaint, Cota’s vehicle ended up under Ragen’s. She and a dog were killed in the crash and fire.
“As the passenger car just began to make the right hand curve the pickup truck pulling the trailer crossed over the centerline into the passenger car’s lane of travel. The operator of the passenger car attempted to take evasive action by braking and turning away from the pickup truck. The passenger car’s front passengers side tire was over the fog line while the driver’s side tire remained to the left of the fog line. After impact the passenger cars initial trajectory was redirected backwards because of the pickup trucks size and weight and the fact that the pickup truck landed on top of the passenger car forcing the passenger car into the ditch. After the two vehicle came to final rest both operators were trapped in their vehicles. The operator of the truck was pulled out prior to the vehicles starting on fire, the operator of the passenger car was unable to be removed and perished in the fire,” the complaint states.
Ragen’s blood alcohol level was .21%, more than double the legal limit for driving.
The crash happened on State 22, west of Oconto.
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