Sentenced: 36-year-old man to serve time in prison after 2014 wrong-way, head-on crash

KENOSHA COUNTY -- A 36-year-old man has been sentenced in connection with a wrong-way, head-on crash that killed two people back in December of 2014.

Brian Smith



It happened on the evening of December 6th on Highway 50 in the Town of Wheatland.

Brian Smith pleaded no contest to two felony charges in this case: two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Three other charges were dismissed as a result of the plea deal.

In court on Wednesday, September 23rd, Smith was sentenced to serve four years in prison and three years extended supervision on each charge. These sentences are to be served consecutively -- so Smith will spend a total of eight years in prison, and six years extended supervision.

Smith has been ordered to pay more than $12,000 in restitution in this case, a $5,000 fine, and court costs. Additionally, his driver's license has been revoked for five years.

At the time of the crash, a pickup truck being driven by Smith was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of traffic. The truck struck a westbound car in a head-on collision.

Traffic in the westbound lanes of Highway 50 was re-routed while emergency crews were on scene of the crash.

The male driver of the westbound car sustained severe injuries and was transported by ambulance to Burlington Hospital where he later passed away. His passenger was killed as a result of the crash.

The deceased were identified as 52-year-old Paul Reese and 29-year-old Michael Reese, both of Lake Geneva.

Smith was initially transported by ambulance to Burlington Hospital and later flown by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital.