APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A truck driver who allegedly ran a red light before crashing into a minivan, killing two people, pleaded not guilty Thursday. However, weather conditions may have been a factor, according to a criminal complaint.
John Litza, 64, faces two counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle for the March 24 crash.
No trial date was set. Litza returns to court Feb. 5 for a pre-trial conference.
According to the complaint, rescue crews responded to West Wisconsin Avenue and North McCarthy Road at about 10:45 a.m. for the two-vehicle crash, where the semi T-boned the minivan.
First aid was provided to the couple in the van, but both died. The complaint does not provide the victims’ names.
Witnesses told police the semi driver, Litza, ran the red light, causing the crash.
A detective told the victims’ family “they had a snow and ice storm and it appeared that the traffic standards eastbound were more snow covered/obscured than other directions on the roadway. Det. Clement stated that the witness that was directly to the left of his parents verified they had a green traffic light when they were struck which would have made the traffic signal red for the semi,” the complaint states.
Also, investigators reviewed the truck’s dash cam video.
A detective “did watch the dashcam video, which she was unable to see what color the traffic light is at the time of the accident. It appears that the red and yellow traffic light is fully covered for eastbound traffic.”
The video was reviewed a second time.
“It appears as the video begins, John is traveling at approximately 55 MPH in the right lane of West Wisconsin Avenue. As John approaches the intersection, the graph shows that John slows down to approximately 50mph. The video shows that no traffic lights are visible approaching the intersection. As John enters the intersection, the white van is in front of him and the graph shows John’s speed at approximately 40 MPH. According to the graph, John’s speed at impact is approximately 38 MPH. John never attempts to swerve and he hits the van square in the side. A large amount of debris and snow is observed on the windshield of the semi-truck as the collision occurs. The windshield wiper on the semi-truck is activated to clear the window and it shows that John is still in the right lane, where he pushed the van along with the semi,” the complaint states.
