Iron County man pleads not guilty in traffic death case

HURLEY — A Gurney, Wis., resident recently entered a not guilty plea to a charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

The next Iron County Court appearance for Matthew Sorrels, 28, will be an Oct. 30 pre-trial hearing.

Sorrels was involved in a Feb. 27 traffic accident on U.S. 2 in the town of Kimball that claimed the life of Harvey Harold Hill, of Washburn. Hill died at a Wausau hospital on March 14.

Charges were filed on March 17.

Sorrels is also charged with homicide by use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol content and homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Sorrels also entered not guilty pleas to those felony counts.

Witnesses said Sorrels’ truck crossed the center line into the eastbound lane of traffic and struck the other vehicle head-on, according to the criminal complaint.

A conviction on the vehicular homicide count carries up to 25 years in prison, a fine up to $100,000 and revocation of a driver’s license for five years.

Frederick Schellgell has been assigned as special prosecutor in the case and Sorrels is being defended by Dennis Melowski.

A $10,000 signature bond was previously set by Iron County Judge Patrick Madden.

—Ralph Ansami