A Warren man with a history of drunk driving offenses has been indicted after he allegedly killed a senior citizen while operating a snowplow under the influence. Jason Waelchli, 45, was charged with slamming his snowplow into 86-year-old Sue Zill on January 16, as she walked to her car in a Fraser parking lot near 15 Mile Road.
According to a news release from the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, obtained by The Detroit News, Waelchli's litany of charges includes driving while intoxicated causing death and driving with a suspended license causing death. The Prosecutor's Office states Waelchli is being charged as a habitual fourth offender after multiple previous instances of impaired driving.
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido underscored the gravity of the allegations. "It is my duty to uphold justice, and in this case a man's repeated choice to allegedly drive under the influence has shattered the life of an innocent elderly woman," Lucido said in a statement reported by FOX 2 Detroit. "The tragedy deepens with each offense, underscoring the urgent need for accountability to protect our communities from such reckless disregard for human life."
Waelchli, who allegedly hit Zill twice while reversing the snowplow, was arraigned with bond set at $25,000 cash/surety, 10%. The details of the arraignment, shared by WWJ Newsradio 950, specify that if released, Waelchli must wear a GPS steel cuff tether with alcohol monitoring and receive a substance abuse assessment. His next court date is scheduled for March 20.
Zill, who had been leaving a hair salon after getting her hair done is remembered as an innocent victim whose life was tragically cut short. The mishap has sparked a conversation on the enforcement of existing DUI laws and the measures necessary to prevent future tragedies of this nature.
