A man involved in a double fatal crash has been sent to jail after violating the terms of his pretrial release. The man, Timothy Vandervere of Beach Park, was initially charged with reckless homicide in a crash that killed two people in April last year. The Kenosha County Circuit Court decided to send Vandervere to jail after he tested positive for alcohol, thus violating the terms of his pretrial release.
The fatal accident occurred on April 5, 2019, when Vandervere's vehicle slammed into the back of another car, causing the death of Dr. Michael Rizzo and his brother Vincent Rizzo. An investigation revealed that Vandervere's blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was more than three times the legal limit. The court had subsequently granted him pretrial release under the condition that he would not consume alcohol.
Vandervere's attorney, Michael Cicchini, argued that his client had not actually consumed alcohol but had used a hand sanitizer, which led to the positive alcohol test. The court, however, did not accept this argument. Judge Jason Rossell stated that the use of hand sanitizer was not a valid defense and sent Vandervere to jail.
The case has attracted significant public attention due to the severity of the crash and Vandervere's subsequent behavior. Vandervere's trial is scheduled to begin on February 3, 2020. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison term, as each count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.