Arpin Man Makes Initial Appearance for Crash that Killed Junction City Girl

Tuesday, March 4th, 2025 -- 2:01 PM

(Karen Madden, Marshfield News-Herald) A $25,000 signature bail was set Monday morning for a 47-year-old Arpin man facing a felony charge for a September 2023 Auburndale crash that killed a 17-year-old Junction City girl.

According to Karen Madden with the Marshfield News-Herald, Jason A. Peterson made his initial appearance Monday on the charge of homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle for the death of Sophia Smrz.

Defense attorney Eric Sheets entered a not guilty plea for Peterson and waved the time limits for his next appearance. Wood County Circuit Judge Todd Wolf scheduled the next appearance for April 7 in front of Wood County Circuit Judge Nicholas Brazeau Jr.

According to the criminal complaint, at about 5:44 a.m. Sept. 22, 2023, Smrz was driving a Volkswagen west on Wood County Y when Peterson, who was driving a Ford F-150 north on Shady Road, failed to yield the right of way while making a left turn onto Wood County Y in the town of Auburndale.

Peterson told a deputy he was "pretty sure" he stopped at the stop sign, but he didn't remember, according to the complaint. Smrz, who had a head injury, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Peterson was taken to Marshfield Medical Center with undisclosed injuries. If convicted, Peterson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

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