Woman Charged in Highway 45 Crash

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MILWAUKEE - Prosecutors have charged a woman over a deadly crash on Highway 45 near Mayfair Road last month.  Centurie Baertlein is facing a charge of homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle over the crash on June 27th that killed Robert Perkins.

According to a criminal complaint, Baertlein was having marital problems with her husband.  She has accused him of cheating on him with several other woman. 

CLICK HERE to read the criminal complaint. (WARNING: CONTAINS OBJECTIONABLE LANGAUGE)

The day of the crash, she agreed to drive him to do some errands.  As the two were driving on northbound Highway 45, they were yelling at each other.  According to statements by Baertlein and her husband, he reached toward her.  Baertlein claims that she thought he was going to hit her.  She pulled away from him toward her door.

At that point, she lost control of the car and sideswiped an SUV in the lane next to her.  She says she bounced off the truck and lost control.  She smashed into Perkins motorcycle, catapulting him off the freeway onto a grassy area below.  Baertlein's car then rolled over.

Baertlein's husband admits that he reached toward her.  However, he claims that he simply intended to turn up the radio so that he didn't have to listen to her anymore.

If convicted on the charges, Baertlein faces up to 10 years in prison and as much as a $25,000 fine.