Driver in fatal Epworth crash charged

EPWORTH - The man whose vehicle struck and killed four teens at a rural road intersection near Epworth last month is now facing a host of charges stemming from the crash.

Joseph Michael Connolly, 24, was arrested on a warrant Friday charging him with four counts of vehicular homicide by OWI; four counts of vehicular homicide by reckless driving; one count of serious injury by OWI; one count of serious injury by reckless driving; and failure to stop for a stop sign.

Authorities say a pickup ran a stop sign at the intersection of Hartbecke Road and Pleasant Grove Road Aug. 2 and struck a Gator utility vehicle. The four passengers on the vehicle - Sean Kenneally, Mitchell Kluesner, Nicholas Kramer and Bryce Wilwert, all age 14 - were killed in the crash.

Connelly was being held on a $500,000 bond Friday afternoon. He remained in custody pending a court appearance.

Vehicular homicide by OWI is a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Vehicular homicide by reckless driving is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Serious injury by reckless driving and serious injury by OWI are both Class D felonies, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The stop sign violation is a simple misdemeanor.