RUSK COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - A preliminary hearing is set for the man charged in the deaths of three Chippewa Falls Girl Scouts and a troop mother. Colton Treu appeared in court yesterday and is due back January 30th for a review hearing prior to the preliminary hearing February 12th. Treu faces four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle along with other charges in connection with the November crash in Rusk County.
Chippewa County DA Wade Newell claimed that Treu was impaired at the time of the accident, alleging that he was huffing from an air duster. A passenger in the vehicle claimed that Treu had trouble controlling the vehicle. They were allegedly fighting over the steering wheel when Treu lost control.
Court documents say Treu's pick-up truck crossed the center line, went into a ditch, and hit a group of girl scouts who were working on a highway beautification project. Three of the girls and an adult volunteer were killed. A fourth scout was seriously injured and remains in critical condition. They've been identified as 9-year-old Jayna Kelley, 10-year-old Autumn Helgeson, 10-year-old Haylee Hickle and her 32-year-old mother, Sara Jo Schneider.
A criminal complaint said Treu drove the truck to his home and hid it in his garage. He went to a party that night before turning himself in.
He's facing 13 charges, including four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
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