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Local NewsRaw Video: Woman Charged In Cyclist DeathBy Lauren Leamanczyk
RACINE - Charges have been filed in the death of cyclist Nancy Sellars.
Janell Gehrke, 43, has been charged with drunk driving. Gehrke hit Sellars and her cycling partner on July 9. Sellars was killed and her biking partner was seriously injured.
Gehrke left the scene after the accident on Five Mile Road before turning herself in.
Gehrke is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, hit and run resulting in death, hit and run resulting in great bodily harm and operating while intoxicated causing injury.
Reading the court documents was difficult for Sellars' husband, Jimi. He was compassionate toward Gehrke's family. Still, he says she should have stayed and tried to help his wife and Tom Chopp.
"What if it would have made a difference in Tom living or not with immediate care?" he asked. "That's why you have to stay."
Click on the link under related content to see an interview with Jimi Sellars.
According to the criminal complaint, Gehrke "panicked" after striking the cyclists and left the scene. The complaint says Gehrke told police she "had a few beers" between 1:30 and 5:00 p.m.
The complaint also says Gehrke told police she had started drinking around 2:30 p.m. and was also taking Adderall for ADHD at the time. The complaint says Gehrke told police she noticed that Adderall seemed to enhance the effects of alcohol and caffeine and was aware of this when she started drinking.
The complaint says that Gehrke left the scene because she says she "has a very close relationship with her mother, and even though she knew it was not going to be OK, she needed to hear her mother tell her it was going to be OK."
Sellars passed away at the hospital from injuries due to the crash and Sellars' cycling partner, Tom Chopp will be confined to a wheelchair for at least three months as a result of his injuries, according to the complaint.
Jimi Sellars wears his wife's ring around his neck. He hopes his story can prevent future drunk driving accidents.
"If that can happen, it would make it just a little bit easier," he said.
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