Advertisement

Preliminary hearing set for driver involved in double-fatal crash

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

By Correne Martin

The driver who was involved in the accident that killed Kirk U’Ren and Jenni Steiner in Madison Feb. 12, is expected in Dane County Court for his preliminary hearing, Thursday, April 20, at 9 a.m. Charges against Brandon Ballweg were filed in Dane County Monday, according to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. (A request for the criminal complaint was made to the Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court Tuesday, though processing could take as many as 10 business days.)

Ballweg faces two counts of second-degree reckless homicide, two charges of homicide by vehicular use-controlled substance, three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, one count of reckless driving causing bodily harm and one count of causing injury while operating-controlled substance (PAC <0.15). These include seven felony charges, of varying degrees, and two misdemeanors.

Ballweg, 25, whose address is the Dane County Jail in Madison, is accused of causing the crash in which he reportedly lost control of his car while traveling east on Highway 30 in Madison, according to the Madison Police Department. Witnesses said Ballweg’s vehicle went into a ditch, then went airborne as it entered the westbound lanes of traffic. The car landed on an SUV, driven by Kirk U’Ren. The impact of the collision caused the U’Ren SUV to collide with two other vehicles, from which three others escaped with minor injuries.

Kirk died at the scene, while Jenni was hospitalized and later died from her injuries. Jenni, the daughter of Russ and Mary Steiner, of Prairie du Chien, and her husband, Kirk, 37, were Cottage Grove residents, who left behind now 16-month-old twin boys, according to reports. The couple’s sons were not in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Ballweg was initially hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. His previous record includes convictions for possessing an illegally obtained prescription and resisting or obstructing an officer, as well as battery and false imprisonment in Grant County. All cases occurred in 2012.

Another woman from Madison and a couple from Pewaukee were also impacted by the crash.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet