A Rice Lake man faces a hit-and-run charge from an August motorcycle crash that left one rider dead, and four others are charged for impeding officers’ investigation of the incident.
On Tuesday, 32-year-old Tyler J. Baker, of Rice Lake, was charged in Barron County Circuit Court with felony hit-and-run involving death and misdemeanor obstructing an officer, both with repeater modifiers. Charged with obstructing an officer are 32-year-old Dustin M. Puig, of Cumberland, and Rice Lake residents, 31-year-old Brett Hrdlicka, 31-year-old Bailey Basham, and 28-year-old Ashley R. Walton.
Court records say the group of five and another rider, who was not charged, were riding with 37-year-old Charles Kee, of Rice Lake. The group was heading home from Good Times Saloon on August 19 when Baker said Kee swerved and their bikes collided and crashed.
Kee was injured and later died at the hospital.
After the crash, nearby witnesses said the riders fled the scene, with the exception of Walton, who remained. Charging documents say the defendants did not give correct information or downplayed their involvement in the crash when interviewed by police.
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