A 43-year-old Baldwin, Wisconsin, man is facing a first-degree reckless homicide charge after Wisconsin State Patrol says his pickup drifted out of its lane on westbound Interstate 94 near Roberts and slammed into another truck, killing the 48-year-old driver. The crash happened around 7:12 a.m. on August 12 at milepost 13, sending the second vehicle off the road and into trees in the north ditch.
According to CBS News, Scott Krelberg was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 westbound in lane one when it deviated from its lane and struck a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado driven by Jeremy Anderson in lane two. The impact forced Anderson's truck off the highway and into several trees in the north ditch. Krelberg was not reported to be hurt in the crash, while Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene, per the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Both men lived in Baldwin, a detail that has added a layer of local weight to the case within St. Croix County. As reported by WEAU, authorities have now formally named both the driver and the victim as investigators worked through the crash's aftermath.
Reckless Homicide Charge Carries Steep Penalty
On Friday, prosecutors escalated the case, charging Krelberg with first-degree reckless homicide in connection with Anderson's death, according to 715Newsroom. The charge remains an allegation at this stage, not a determination of guilt. Under Wisconsin Statute § 940.02(1), the offense is a Class B felony punishable by up to 60 years in state prison, per Stangl Law's breakdown of the statute.
To secure a conviction, prosecutors must prove Krelberg caused Anderson's death recklessly and under circumstances showing what the law defines as “utter disregard for human life,” the same legal analysis notes. That standard sets a high bar, requiring more than ordinary negligence to support the felony charge. The crash itself remains under investigation in St. Croix County.
A Dangerous Stretch of Highway
The stretch of I-94 near Roberts sits roughly 40 miles east of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area and carries heavy volumes of morning commuter traffic from Western Wisconsin into the Twin Cities, according to the Town of Eau Galle's 2020 comprehensive plan. Standard speed limits on rural Wisconsin interstates run at 70 mph along that corridor. The Wisconsin State Patrol's Bureau of Transportation Safety has identified lane deviations as a leading cause of high-speed interstate collisions and routinely runs aerial and ground enforcement patrols on I-94 targeting distracted driving and speeding.
The corridor has seen other severe crashes in recent years, including a double-fatal seven-vehicle collision near mile marker 28 in July 2024 and a fatal wrong-way crash at milepost 16 in November 2023, according to WEAU and State Patrol reports at the time. WisDOT has also issued ongoing travel advisories for westbound I-94 between Roberts and Hudson tied to work zones, bridge deck repairs, and lane shifts, urging drivers to use caution and avoid lane deviations in the area.
Countywide Fatalities on the Rise
Preliminary Wisconsin Department of Transportation data shows St. Croix County recorded 14 traffic fatalities in 2025, up from 10 in each of the prior two years. The county logged 2,503 total traffic crashes in 2024 alone. Statewide, WisDOT recorded 6,643 crashes involving large trucks or pickups in 2024, resulting in 74 deaths and 1,492 injuries.
WisDOT operates a 24/7 Traffic Management Center and Safety Patrol network that monitors interstates including I-94 in St. Croix County using dynamic cameras and messaging signs, coordinating with local sheriff's departments and state troopers when fatal crashes occur. No court date for Krelberg has been reported as the investigation continues.
