WAUNAKEE WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR 2021 VEHICULAR HOMICIDE

Monroe County District Attorney Kevin D. Croninger announced today that on December 16, 2022, 42-year-old Carrie J. Herbst of Waunakee was sentenced to 18 years in prison in relation to the October 2021 wrong-way crash on Interstate 94 near Warrens. The sentence was structured as 8 years of initial confinement and 10 years of extended supervision. After Herbst completes 10 years of extended supervision, she will be placed on probation for an additional 15 years.

On Sunday, October 3, 2021, Herbst was driving eastbound on Interstate 94 from Minneapolis to Waunakee when other motorists saw her weaving back and forth. At approximately 8:50 P.M., Herbst exited Interstate 94 onto the eastbound off-ramp to Highway EW in Warrens. While on the off-ramp, Herbst made a U-turn and drove up the off-ramp. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) traffic management cameras recorded Herbst entering the eastbound lanes of Interstate 94 while she was driving westbound. Numerous vehicles swerved to avoid a collision with Herbst. Herbst ultimately crashed head-on with one vehicle, setting off a chain reaction of collisions with two other vehicles. Two people, including a juvenile, were seriously injured in the crash and another, a 29-year-old man, died from his injuries. Open intoxicants were found in Herbst’s vehicle. Herbst’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.177 g/100 mL, over two times the legal limit

Herbst was convicted of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, two counts of first degree reckless injury, and two counts of first degree recklessly endangering safety on October 28, 2022. Herbst was sentenced by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Richard Radcliffe. Judge Radcliffe told Herbst she would be held accountable for her actions for the rest of her life. Herbst will be 75 years old when she concludes her sentence.

The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Sarah Skiles with assistance from the staff of the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. ADA Skiles remarked, “The victims and their families have gone through indescribable pain and loss that no one should have to endure. In spite of it all, they demonstrated remarkable strength which helped hold Carrie Herbst accountable.”

The location and severity of the crash necessitated a collaborative, multi-agency response from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, City of Tomah Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Tomah Rescue, Tomah Ambulance Service, Fort McCoy Fire & Emergency Services, and other first responders and medical professionals. The crash investigation was handled by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol. Skiles praised the work of all law enforcement officers involved, “The officers on scene worked cooperatively and professionally during a chaotic situation. Deputy Joseph Merkel of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Lindsey Harvey of the City of Tomah Police Department in particular should be commended for acting with compassion while assisting the injured and for also acting with professional diligence in documenting important evidence that was fleeting due to the nature of the scene.”

Herbst was remanded into custody to begin serving her prison sentence immediately.