The rural Rio man involved in a fatal head-on collision in July faces 25 years in prison in the death of Ben VanderVenter.
Jack W. Frandy, 69, was charged Thursday with two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and with misdemeanor obstructing an officer.
VanderVenter, of rural Columbus, suffered significant internal injuries after his 1992 Saturn coupe crossed the center line while traveling south on Highway C, south of Hall Road, around midnight July 24. VanderVenter's car struck a 2002 Cadillac Escapade driven by Frandy, who was traveling north. The collision was head-on.
VanderVenter was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by Columbia County Medical Examiner Angela Hinze.
A crash re-construction expert reported that both vehicles were traveling less than the speed limit at the time of the impact, with the Cadillac going 45 mph and the Saturn between 40 and 44 mph, according to a criminal complaint.
A blood test later revealed Frandy's blood-alcohol concentration to be 0.166 at the time of the collision, according to a criminal complaint, more than twice the legal level of 0.08 to drive in Wisconsin.
Pamela Frandy, 60, Jack Frandy's wife, initially told authorities she was the driver; Frandy called her to the scene after the crash, according to a criminal complaint. Pamela drove from their Highway B residence to the accident before contacting 911, authorities said.
The delay in contacting 911 probably made no difference in VanderVenter's death, said Assistant District Attorney Troy Cross, although he said he is still awaiting medical and laboratory test results that might prove otherwise.
Pamela was taken to Columbus Community Hospital via ambulance, where she was examined for injuries.
While both Frandys were at the hospital, investigators with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office confronted them about who was the driver after noting there were no outgoing calls on Pamela's cell phone around the time of the collision and that Frandy had injuries consistent with the crash.
Pamela was charged Thursday with misdemeanor obstructing an officer, which has a maximum sentence of nine months in jail and a fine of $10,000.
Frandy was charged with two homicide counts - one related to operating while intoxicated and one related to operating with a prohibited concentration of blood-alcohol; if he is found guilty of both charges, he would serve only one sentence, Cross said.
Frandy was charged in July with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated as a second offense and with obstructing an officer, both as misdemeanors, after he drove from the crash scene to Columbus Community Hospital when Pamela was taken by ambulance, according to a criminal complaint. The charges carry a possible maximum initial penalty of 18 months in jail and $11,100 in fines.
Frandy was convicted of drunken driving as a first offense in 2007 in Columbia County.
Initial appearances have not been scheduled in the cases; further charges might be possible as the investigation continues, Cross said.