WAUSAU − A 20-year-old Weston woman charged in connection with a fatal July 2025 crash is headed toward trial after waiving her right to a preliminary hearing June 16.
Aliya Mae James was scheduled for a hearing on charges of homicide by driving under the influence of a controlled substance, second-degree reckless homicide, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. At a preliminary hearing, prosecutors must show that a crime was probably committed and that the defendant probably committed it.
James’ attorney, Dominique McQueen, told Marathon County Circuit Court Judge Scott Corbett that James was waiving her right to a preliminary hearing. Corbett ordered the case to proceed and scheduled James’ next appearance for Aug. 24.
What happened in the July 2025 Weston fatal crash?
According to the criminal complaint, a caller reported a crash at 12:18 p.m. July 6, 2025, at the intersection of Camp Phillips Road and East Everest Avenue in the village of Weston. An ambulance took an 86-year-old man to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
According to the criminal complaint, witnesses said the 86-year-old man was driving a Buick Skylark on Camp Phillips Road and turning onto East Everest Avenue when a Toyota Prius driven by James struck the Skylark. Witnesses also reported that James was traveling at a high speed — some estimated between 70 and 80 mph — before the crash.
What the criminal complaint says about speed and drug test results
James told officers she had a green light when she got to the intersection. She wasn’t sure where the Skylark came from, according to the complaint.
At first, James told an officer she thought she was going between 35 and 40 mph. She later said she would never have gone more than 50 mph, according to the complaint. She said her father has an app on her phone when she goes above a certain speed.
James told investigators she had been driving in the right lane before moving to the left lane to pass stopped vehicles and believed she may have returned to the right lane. She said she did not see any vehicles in the intersection until the crash, according to the complaint.
A blood test showed James had amphetamines and marijuana in her system at the time of the crash, according to the complaint.
Contact Karen Madden kmadden@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Weston woman faces homicide charge in fatal July 2025 crash
Reporting by Karen Madden, Wausau Daily Herald / Wausau Daily Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Karen Madden, Wausau Daily Herald | USA TODAY Network
