A prosecutor says that the driver of a snowmobile that crashed into a tree and killed a Chicago television journalist who was a passenger had a blood-alcohol level more than two times the legal limit to drive.

The criminal complaint said 44-year-old Scott Hirschey of Crystal Lake, Illinois, had a 0.225 percent blood-alcohol level some four hours after the crash.

But District Attorney Al Moustakis said Monday that more detailed testing put the level at 0.183 percent.

Hirschey made his first appearance in Vilas County Circuit Court on one count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle in the January 24th death of 45-year-old Randy Salerno.

Salerno, the morning anchor on WBBM-TV in Chicago, died when the snowmobile hit an embankment near Sayner and flew at least 20 feet through the air before hitting a tree.

Court Commissioner Steve Garbowicz set a $25,000 signature bail for Hirschey and ordered him to return to court April 1st for a preliminary hearing.