Monroe County man given high cash bond after collision kills driver of oncoming vehicle

The Tomah driver charged in a head-on collision that killed another driver last week made a court appearance Monday in Monroe County.

Officers say 39-year-old Kristoffer Cattle was driving under the influence on a county highway when he went into the wrong lane and crashed into another vehicle.

The second driver, 63-year-old David Wilcox, also of Tomah, died in the accident and a passenger of his was hurt.

Monroe County Judge Mark Goodman set a cash bond of $250,000 for Cattle, because the defendant failed to show for some past hearings. Cattle faces nine charges, including reckless homicide and homicide while under the influence.

“He has a history of doing just that, of not coming to court,” Goodman said.

Monroe County District attorney Kevin Croninger argued that Cattle had been driving under the influence of drugs for several hours before the accident.

“The allegations in the criminal complaint allege that the defendant, while operating a motor vehicle, was on the wrong side” of Highway A, and ran head-on into the Wilcox vehicle, Croninger said.

Cattle’s attorney requested a lower cash bond, and said that the suspect is eligible for a public defender.

Goodman has ordered Cattle not to drink liquor, not to drive in Wisconsin, and to have no contact with the family of Wilcox.  Cattle’s next court appearance is set for December 16th.