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IR area man charged with OWI in crash

THEODORE TSCHANNEN

CRYSTAL FALLS — An Iron River Township man faces two felonies and a misdemeanor for reportedly causing a serious traffic crash outside his home Monday while his blood-alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit.

Theodore Walter Tschannen Jr., 63, is accused of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury and operating with a high blood-alcohol content-third offense, both five-year felonies, as well as open alcohol container in vehicle, a 90-day misdemeanor.

He will return to Iron County Trial Court for a probable cause conference Nov. 27 and a preliminary examination Dec. 4.

Tschannen was driving a Ford F-250 pickup truck out of his driveway on U.S. 2 near Gibbs City Road about 12:59 p.m. Monday when he struck a Ford Fusion car traveling west on the highway, according to an Iron County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The driver of the car, a Watersmeet woman, had to be extricated with the Jaws of Life before Aspirus EMS transported her to Aspirus Iron River Hospital and later airlifted her to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, the release stated.

Tschannen’s blood-alcohol content at the time was .308, according to court documents.

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