Teen Enters Plea in Fatal Crash that Injured Deputies

The teenager who prosecutors allege drove drunk during a Nov. 1 crash in which his 17-year-old friend died has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges against him.

Ihor Sahan, 18, of St. Francis, was arraigned Wednesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court on six charges related to a crash in which Ryan Petri, 17, died. Petri and Sahan were coming back from a concert in Madison. If convicted, Sahan could face more than 15 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

Sahan told authorities he consumed six vodka and Gatorade drinks before driving home from the concert. Two deputies were parked on I-94 near Sunny Slope Road in Brookfield in a Waukesha County Sheriff Department squad car.

Sahan was driving 74 mph before he crashed "very hard" into the squad, the deputies said. The crash dislodged the squad car's computer, chipped a deputy's tooth and spun the squad car around.

Sahan's vehicle was engulfed in flames. The deputies pulled Sahan from the vehicle and freed Petri, who was unresponsive, according to the criminal complaint.

Sahan's blood alcohol concentration was 0.135 percent, the complaint states.

Sahan was being held in Waukesha County Jail on $100,000 bond, but Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow reduced it Wednesday to $15,000 cash, a $25,000 surety bond and a $10,000 signature bond signed by his parents. The cash bond was posted Wednesday, online court records show.

Sahan will make his next appearance in court Jan. 25.