Beaver Dam Man Found Competent To Stand Trial For Vehicular Homicide

(Horicon) A Beaver Dam man charged with Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle was found competent to stand trial during a motion hearing yesterday Friday. A Dodge County judge ordered a competency exam earlier this month for Dustin VanderGalien, who is facing 14 felony charges including several counts of Injury by Intoxicated use of a Motor Vehicle stemming from a multi-vehicle crash that killed one person in July of 2019. The defendant told the court that he was competent and attorneys for both sides agreed with the findings of the doctor’s report.

According to the criminal complaint, VanderGalien was driving a Chrysler Sedan on Highway E east from State Highway 26 when he crossed the centerline and struck a Chevrolet Equinox. The Chrysler then hit a Ford Focus that had been travelling behind the Equinox.

Twenty-two-year-old Gavin Rivas from Orfordville, who was a passenger in the Focus, died from his injuries. Multiple people required transportation to area hospitals for treatment. At the scene, VanderGalien allegedly admitted to having a couple mixed drinks prior to the crash. The 36-year-old was flown to UW-Hospital where a blood draw was later taken which reportedly found alcohol in his system.

Vandergalien has two previous OWI convictions in 2008 and 2015. If convicted on all charges, VanderGalien faces up to 165 years in prison.