Deadly river plunge leads to prison time

A man from Willow River is expected to serve more than two years in prison after sentencing Tuesday.

Preston Prokasky pled guilty to a criminal vehicular homicide charge earlier this year. The 44-year-old was accused of driving into the Kettle River last September while high on methamphetamine, killing passenger Eugene Oestreich. Prokasky was convicted in January but delays due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions meant sentencing didn’t come until 11 months later. He was sentenced to three years and five months in state prison, with a year and three months already served while going through the legal process.

According to police, Prokasky told authorities that he intentionally drove his Ford Escape into the river at about 3:45 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2019, thinking he could cross safely in an area just southwest of the city of Willow River. When the car began to sink, Prokasky and a backseat passenger, Gerald Darkow, exited out the driver’s side window. Oestreich, also in the back seat, was unable to exit. The vehicle was found in 14 feet of water. Prokasky admitted to using methamphetamine before the incident.