Woman, 85, charged with 2015 highway worker's death

An 85-year-old Antigo woman has been charged with the 2015 death of a Lincoln County Highway worker.

Marcus Wydeven, 50, of Tomahawk was killed July 14, 2015 when he was struck by a vehicle while holding a stop sign during a road construction project.

Mary Robinson was charged Friday with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.

Investigators said the crash happened on Highway 17 near Smith Road northeast of Merrill around 2:30 p.m. Investigators said Robinson's vehicle went off the road and rolled over landing in a creek. Wydeven was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Robinson was also transported for unknown, non-life threatening injuries.

In court documents obtained by NewsChannel 7, three signs warning motorists that they were approaching a work zone had been posted north of the accident site. The criminal complaint also states Robinson was traveling 51-60 MPH when she was approaching Wydeven's location. Witnesses told investigators it did not appear that Robinson slowed down or braked before the accident.

Lincoln County District Attorney Donald Dunphy said Friday that it was a long process to present charges in this case, but he's not calling it a delay.

"These cases are complex. Everybody's statement had to be reviewed. The measurements and the crash report had to be reviewed to make sure that the correct charge was being filed," Dunphy said.

Dunphy added that Robinson is the oldest person he's prosecuted in his more than 11 years as the District Attorney.

Deputies said Wydeven had been with the Lincoln County Highway Department for 20 years.

Robinson is free on a $5,000 signature bond. A judge has ordered her to not drive a vehicle.