CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI (WSAU) The man accused of killing three girl scouts and a parent in a Saturday hit-and-run is now being held on $250,000 bond. Colton Treu, 21, made an initial court appearance Monday morning.
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.
On Saturday afternoon 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 fourth Girl Scout is in critical condition.
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.
Treu was involved in an accident earlier this year in Rusk County. A police report from that crash says meth and drug paraphernalia were found in his car.
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