CHIPPEWA COUNTY -- The man convicted of causing 4 deaths when his vehicle left the roadway in Lake Hallie, WI on November 3, 2018 and crashed into a Girl Scout Troop working as a clean-up crew has been sentenced to serve 54 years in State Prison.
Following the crash, the driver of the vehicle initially fled the scene, but later turned himself in and was identified as Colten Treu.
The subsequent investigation into the crash revealed that Treu was driving while under the influence of chemical vapors after Treu admitted to intentionally inhaling or “huffing” chemical vapors prior to the crash.
On November 5, 2018 at a hearing in Chippewa County Circuit Court Treu was placed on a $250,000 cash bail bond.
DrydenWire.com reported in December 2019 that Treu entered a plea of No Contest to the charges of Class C Felony Homicide by Intox Use of Vehicle (2nd+), and Class E Felony Hit and Run-Involve Great Bodily Harm filed against him. The remaining charges filed against Treu, including 4 counts of Hit and Run - Involve Death, Felony Bail Jump, and Intentionally Misuse Hazardous Substance, were dismissed but read in.
Online circuit court records show that Treu’s sentencing hearing started on March 10, 2020 and finished on March 11, 2020. Impact statements from over 2 dozen victims were given during the hearing.
Treu has been ordered to serve a 99 year sentence in total; 21 years for each of the 4 count of Class C Felony Homicide by Intox Use of Vehicle (2nd+), and 15 years for 1 count of Class E Felony Hit and Run-Involve Great Bodily Harm.
The Court ordered Treu to serve 4 consecutive sentences of 11 years initial confinement each followed by 1 sentence of 1 years initial confinement; his terms of confinement in prison are to be followed by 45 years of extended supervision.
On a separate case filed against Treu in Rusk County Circuit Court he is scheduled to have a Jury Trial in May 2020 regarding charges of Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine (Party to a Crime), Misdemeanor Possession of THC (Party to a Crime), Misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia (Party to a Crime), and Misdemeanor Operate with Restricted Controlled Substance (2nd).
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Mar 11, 2020 9:43 pm CDT
