Wisconsin Teen Sentenced to Nine Years for Fatal Drunk Driving Crash

A Wisconsin teenager has been sentenced to nine years in prison for killing a 54-year-old woman while driving drunk. Addison Bowell, who was 17 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection with the death of Ann Seidl.

The fatal collision occurred on March 29, 2025, when Bowell, returning home intoxicated around 7 a.m., struck Seidl, a marathon runner, with her vehicle. Bowell admitted to consuming a significant amount of alcohol and snorting prescription drugs before getting behind the wheel.

During the investigation, Bowell displayed a lack of remorse, initially blaming Seidl for her own death and questioning why anyone would be running at that hour. Prosecutors highlighted Bowell's casual behavior and her sharing of videos on her phone after the crash, one of which captured Seidl's headband dangling from the car, while Bowell could be heard laughing.

"While the defendant can change, and I certainly hope that she does change, the only thing that these videos and her past records demonstrate is a desire for her to fulfill her own selfish needs and a complete and utter disregard for others," prosecutor Andrea Nodolf stated during the sentencing.

Seidl's family urged the judge to impose a maximum sentence, with her eldest son testifying, "People stop when they hit a deer; she did not stop for my mother." He added, "By the time anyone found my mother in that ditch, the defendant had been home for nearly an hour. We will never know if my mother could have been saved because of that heartless decision to flee."

Bowell's attorney argued for leniency, stating that his client was accepting responsibility. Bowell herself offered an apology, saying, "I know that my words cannot undo what happened, but I hope that with my actions moving forward, I can show that I am committed to learning to become a better person."

In addition to the nine-year prison sentence, Judge Christina Mayer mandated that Bowell maintain absolute sobriety after her release, be subject to seven years of extended supervision, and have her driver's license revoked for five years. Seidl is survived by three adult sons.