Prosecution urges court to deny new trial, sentence in fatal drunken driving crash

WatchProsecution urges court to deny new trial, sentence in fatal drunken driving crashby Brian Kerhin, FOX 11 News

5VIEW ALL PHOTOSBridget Miller (Wisconsin DOC)Comment on this story0CommentShare storySharetopics: Bridget MillerDrunken drivingFatal crashNew trialPost-convictionHomicideBACCalumet CountyCHILTON (WLUK) — Bridget Miller's motions for a new trial and new sentence in connection with a fatal drunken driving crash should be denied, a prosecutor says in a new court filing.

Miller, now 63, pleaded no contest to three counts, including homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, for the March 11, 2023, crash which killed 19-year-old Louis Froehlich. The crash happened at Oneida Street and Highway 114 in the village of Harrison. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Miller filed a post-conviction motion in Calumet County, raising issues about the conviction and her sentence.

In the reply filed this week, District Attorney Nathan Haberman contends each point should be rejected.

2023CF000063 The State's Reply to the Defendant's Postconviction MotionPDF previewPreview PDFState's reply to Bridget Miller's motion for a new trial and sentenceView PDF

A motions hearing is scheduled before Judge Jeffrey Froehlich for Nov. 12. The judge could rule at that time, or select to put a decision into writing.

The crash happened in northwest Calumet County. Afterward, police talked to Miller.

"Once Bridget was outside of her truck, she had trouble keeping her balance and would stumble needing to use her truck to keep her from falling over. Bridget would immediately try to argue with the bystanders nearby and continued to shout that it was not her fault and that it was the other driver that pulled out in front of her.

Bridget was upset and concerned that her new vehicle she had just purchased was now totaled. Bridget would be verbally abusive to first responders and everyone on scene trying to assist her. Bridget was showing no concern for the individuals in the four-door sedan," the complaint states.

Later, she told police she was upset due to an argument with her husband and had gone to a friend's house and had three beers. That friend, however, told police she was not with Miller that day.

Miller's husband confirmed the argument and said Miller left the house about 6 p.m. — about two hours before the crash — but did not know where she went.

A preliminary breath test revealed a BAC of .193, more than double the usual legal limit of .08. However, due to her four previous drunken driving convictions, Miller's legal limit was .02, the complaint states. Court records later show the parties agreed her BAC was .222.

Miller told police she stopped for the red light before continuing. "Bridget again blamed the other vehicle for 'blowing through' the intersection and then causing the accident," the complaint says.

A witness not involved in the crash "said they were slowing down for the yellow or red light and saw the driver go through the intersection, not slowing at all and hit a grey vehicle broadside," according to the complaint.

Security camera video from a nearby business was obtained.

"At the time of the crash, the eastbound and westbound traffic had a green light and the northbound and southbound traffic had a red light. It was clearly shown in the video that the suspect vehicle, the black pickup truck, had blown through the red light and a high rate of speed striking the sedan," the complaint says.

Miller's previous convictions for drunken driving were for events on Jan. 30, 1995; Dec. 19, 1995; March 25, 2001; and Dec. 7, 2001.

The criminal complaint notes Miller was identified by her driver's license.