Man Charged With Vehicular Homicide Can Still Drive While On Bail

STILLWATER, MN — The 28-year-old semi driver charged with criminal vehicular homicide in connection with Tuesday's fatal crash in Lake Elmo can continue driving while out on bail, a Washington County district judge ruled Friday.

Prosecutors asked Judge John Hoffman Friday that a condition of bail for Samuel Hicks, 28, of Independence, Wisconsin include a ban on his driving priveledges.

"That might be a hardship, but consider the hardship on the victim’s family," Assistant Washington County attorney Kevin Mueller said in court. "He killed someone a few days ago on our highways."

Judge John Hoffman said that would be "unreasonable," the Pioneer Press reported.

The fatal crash — which took place on Highway 36 at Lake Elmo Boulevard — killed Robert Bursik, 54, of Amery, Wisconsin while he was waiting at a red stoplight. Investigators claim Hicks made no effort to brake before colliding into Bursik's Toyota at 63 mph.

After the collision, Hicks admitted to investigators he was texting his girlfriend and had looked up a house on his Zillow app while driving, according to the criminal complaint.

Emergency crews couldn't extract Bursik at the scene. He was extracted at the Lake Elmo Fire Department after the car was towed there.

Image via Minnesota Department of Transportation