An Oak Creek man has pleaded guilty to homicide by driving intoxicated in connection with a crash in Cudahy that killed a local teacher.
Troy Vaillancourt, 28, was facing the felony charge for allegedly driving drunk and causing an accident that took the life of St. Francis teacher Michelle Engman on Dec. 6, 2024.
Vaillancourt changed his plea to guilty June 9 as part of a plea agreement, according to online court records. He initially pleaded not guilty in December 2024.
The court found him guilty and Vaillancourt was remanded into Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department custody.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22.
Following the crash, a GoFundMe was launched to help support Engman’s family. As of June 9 it had raised $31,777 ― well above its $19,000 goal.
According to the complaint:
Cudahy police were dispatched to East Van Norman and South Lipton avenues for a two-car crash at 3 p.m. Dec. 6, 2024.
Authorities found a Honda Civic and Chevrolet Trailblazer with severe damage and determined the crash occurred in the middle of the intersection.
Engman, who was driving the Civic, was unconscious with no pulse. Officers attempted lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived and took her to the hospital. She died Dec. 8 from injuries received in the crash, according to the autopsy.
Vaillancourt told police he was the driver of the Trailblazer and said he’d just finished work and was traveling south on South Lipton Avenue when the crash happened.
Traffic southbound on Lipton has a stop sign while traffic on Van Norman Avenue has no stop sign.
“I’m 90% sure I blew the stop sign then hit her,” Vaillancourt told an officer, adding that he “probably was speeding.”
Officers observed Vaillancourt exhibited signs of intoxication though he denied drinking before the crash. He did admit to drinking the night before, including the early morning hours of Dec. 6.
Vaillancourt took a breathalyzer which indicated his blood alcohol level was 0.169%. The legal limit in Wisconsin is 0.08%, but since Vaillancourt had two prior OWI convictions he must maintain a BAC under 0.02%.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oak Creek man pleads guilty in drunk driving homicide of St. Francis teacher
Reporting by Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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