Courts

Driver in deadly I-90 crash wants change in restitution agreement

Published

4 years ago

December 22, 2020

A truck driver sent to prison for causing a fatal crash on I-90 at Onalaska in 2014 is challenging the restitution orders included in his sentence.

Francis Rychtik argued in court on Tuesday that he believes he’s being required to pay certain expenses a second time to the family of Jason Songer of La Crescent, and also argues that the state is taking too much of his income while he’s in prison, in order to pay the restitution to victims and their families.

Songer died after Rychtik’s truck hit him from behind and led to a chain-reaction with several vehicles.

Songer’s car started on fire because of the crash.

Rychtik had been drinking before the accident, and was looking at his cellphone seconds before the collision.

He’s serving a 16-year prison term for vehicular homicide.

Judge Todd Bjerke did not change the restitution order, and suggested that Rychtik negotiate with attorneys in the case.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.