Waukesha man charged with homicide in driving death of Vernon man

Christopher M. Conner, 20, of Waukesha, was charged Friday with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle stemming from an early morning crash Tuesday that killed passenger Michael Zippel, 23, of Vernon.

According to the criminal complaint, Conner told police at the scene that he had had five beers before driving off Cheri Ave. at Sunset View Drive in Vernon shortly before 2 a.m. Dec. 1. The car traveled down a ditch, became airborne and hit a large tree about 7 feet off the ground before coming to rest 300 feet from the tree, the complaint says.

Zippel, who was in the back seat, was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene from internal injuries. Conner and passenger Lauren Thiesenhusen, 19, of Waukesha, were treated for minor injuries.

Judge J. Mac Davis set cash bail of $250,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Dec. 10.

The felony carries punishment of up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 fine, plus loss of driving privileges for five years.

Conner was also charged with two misdemeanors – drunken driving causing injury, in connection with Thiesenhusen’s injuries and possession of marijuana, which emergency personnel said they found on him as they transported him to a hospital.