Arpin Woman Charged with Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle for December 2023 Crash

Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 -- 11:00 AM

(Karen Madden, Marshfield News-Herald) A 71-year-old Arpin woman was charged Friday with homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle in connection with a December 2023 crash in the town of Auburndale that killed a 25-year-old Arpin man.

According to Karen Madden with the Marshfield News-Herald, Elsie R. Punke, who was in critical condition for a time following the crash, is scheduled to make her initial appearance Feb. 10 on the charge related to the death of Michael Baugh.

According to a Wood County Sheriff's Office news release, at about 1:30 p.m. Dec. 26, 2023, a Toyota Corolla was traveling east behind a semi on U.S. 10, which is a four-lane divided highway, near Day Road in the town of Auburndale.

Baugh, who was the driver of the Corolla, moved over to pass the semi. A Toyota Rav4, driven by Punke, was traveling west in the eastbound lane and the two vehicles hit head on.

According to the criminal complaint, the semi's driver told deputies he saw Punke's vehicle going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes on U.S. 10. He said he tried to alert her that she was driving the wrong way, but she kept going.

The Wood County coroner pronounced Baugh dead at the scene, according to the complaint. A passenger in Baugh's vehicle was transported to Marshfield Medical Center with minor injuries, according to the Sheriff's Office news release.

If Punke is convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

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