Two felony counts filed against driver

Kieffer L. Michel, 18, of 310 DeWitt St., Portage, faces two felony counts of homicide by the negligent operation of a vehicle following the December 11th accident that claimed the lives of his two passengers, Brittney M. Griffey, 17, of Packwaukee, and Kristin L. Eggert, 16, of Princeton.

If convicted, Michel faces a maximum penalty on each count of 10 years in prison, a $25,000 fine, or both.

The accident occurred on State Highway 23, about three-tenths of a mile east of 11th Drive, in the town of Packwaukee. Authorities received a call from a passerby at around 12:55 a.m., reporting a vehicle in the north ditch. Authorities and rescue personnel found the two passengers lying on the ground, having been thrown from the vehicle. Both were transported with life threatening injuries from the scene to UW Hospital in Madison by Med Flight and Flight for Life. Griffey’s time of death was listed at 5:37 a.m., while Eggert died at 12:36 p.m., according to the complaint filed against Michel.

The complaint says that Michel reportedly came into the Kwik Trip in Montello at about 2:15 a.m. and used an employee’s phone to call for a ride.

It alleges that he first told a deputy that he was left in Montello by a friend named Adam, but that he later told a detective that he drove from Griffey’s home in Packwaukee to the Montello Kwik Trip, then drove a block, parked, and walked around Montello before going back to Kwik Trip and calling his stepfather for a ride. It further alleges that he later admitted he was driving the vehicle, accompanied by the two females, when it went off the road. The complaint says he told authorities he was driving 65-75 mph when the vehicle started sliding. It says he told investigators that at first the brakes didn’t engage, but then they did, and the vehicle went into the ditch, rolling a number of times. It said he had his seat belt on, but the passengers did not.

He allegedly told authorities he yelled for Brittney, but got no answer and didn’t see either girl. The complaint says he then said he walked back into the city and heard sirens about 5-15 minutes after the crash, then saw the spotlight from a Med Flight helicopter when he was back in the city.

The complaint goes on to say he got a ride from Kwik Trip back to his home in Portage and alleges he never attempted to contact law enforcement or flag down any passersby.

The complaint also says Michel allegedly reported that he drank six beers and four shots of alcohol between approximately 7 p.m. December 10th and before the group left to get cigarettes at approximately midnight. Michel reportedly told authorities they stopped at the Chateau Bar west of Montello on Highway 23 and Kwik Trip in the city looking for cigarettes before returning on Highway 23.

The court scheduled a preliminary hearing for January 19th and set a cash bond of $12,500 on Michel.