Rosalie Polsin (Photo courtesy: Outagamie County Jail)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A 79-year-old woman has been sentenced to prison for a wrong-way crash on Interstate 41 that that killed one person.
Rosalie Polsin was sentenced to two years in prison and five years extended supervision for the Nov. 4, 2024, crash which killed Austin LaVicka Luehring, 27.
During her extended supervision, Polsin must attend a victim impact panel each year. She is also barred from driving during that time.
In January, Polsin pleaded guilty to one count of homicide by negligent use of a vehicle.
Police responded to the crash in the southbound lanes of I-41, near Lynndale Drive, about 10:20 p.m. that night. Polsin was driving northbound in the southbound lanes, according to the complaint.
Police interviewed her at the hospital after the crash.
“Trooper Gorski started his interview asking Rosalie if she remembered the night of the accident. She stated she realized immediately upon getting onto the ramp that she was going the wrong way. She stated that she was not able to find a place to tum [sic] around due to the walls from construction in the area. She stated she was aware of the other vehicles that were coming at her and looked for a crossover but was unable to find one. She stated she did not remember attempting to slow down prior to the collision,” the complaint says.
“Rosalie stated she knew she was on College Avenue prior to going the wrong way. When asked what road she had turned onto she initially did not seem to know, but when asked if she knew she had gotten onto I41 she stated she was aware. She stated she believed she was going 45 to 50 miles per hour because she was scared from the vehicles going past her. She stated that she wished she had turned around immediately on the ramp when she realized she was going the wrong way,” the complaint states.
The victim’s mother, Christina LaVicka, and Austin’s friends have launched a program, called “497 Austin Alert,” to alert drivers to highway dangers.
Comments