The man charged in a snowmobile crash that killed television news anchor Randy Salerno from CBS 2, WBBM in Chicago has been released on a $25,000 signature bond.

Scott Hirschey of Crystal Lake, Illinois, appeared in Vilas County court Monday morning via telephone.

He did not make the trip to Vilas County based on a doctor's orders. Hirschey suffered multiple trauma and his attorney says Hirschey has a staph infection due to the injuries.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 1.

Hirschey, 44, is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

Prosecutors say Hirschey had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit during the crash that killed his friend, Randy Salerno.

In court, Hirschey's attorney said an autopsy showed Salerno's Blood Alcohol Content was about .04%, half the legal limit.

45-year-old Salerno was a passenger on a snowmobile that missed an entrance to a trail near Sayner.

The snowmobile hit an embankment and flew at least 20 feet in the air before hitting a tree.

According to the criminal complaint, Hirschey refused to perform an alcohol breath test for a warden investigating the crash.

-The Associated Press Contributed to this Report-