A traveling salesman involved in a fatal car crash last weekend outside of Portage is being held in the County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Jacob M. Baker, 26, of no permanent address, has been charged with three felonies for his role in the Jan. 26 death of Scott A. Cook of Wisconsin Dells. Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Daniel George ordered Baker held on the high cash bail for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, second-degree reckless homicide and homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.

The charges carry a combined prison sentence of 80 years. During his initial appearance Wednesday, Baker waved his right to a preliminary hearing within the time limits.

Cook was killed after his Buick Century was struck nearly head-on by Baker's Ford Econoline van, which had crossed the center line as it was traveling east on Highway 16 in the town of Lewiston, police said.

According to the criminal complaint, a deputy with the Columbia County Sheriff's Department was the first person to arrive at the accident at about 8 p.m. The deputy found Baker inside the van conscious, but dazed, while Cook was found unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

When the officer asked Baker if he had been drinking, he replied "a lot," records show. Because Baker initially refused to give police his full name, the officer searched his van and found a discharge slip that showed he'd received a prescription for a painkiller that stated alcohol should not be consumed with the drug.

Baker, who was in the area selling cleaning products for a Pennsylvania company, was taken to the University of Wisconsin Hospital for treatment. He gave police his complete name the day after the accident.

If Baker was to post bail, he is ordered to stay away from the Cook family and report to the Sheriff's Department once a week. He is also ordered not to drive a car without a valid license and not to possess alcoholic beverages or visit any business that serves alcohol except for the grocery store.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Feb. 25. This will be followed by a March 14 return date.