Former Fitchburg council candidate charged in public media director’s death

Prosecutors have charged a former Fitchburg City Council candidate in connection with the July death of Wisconsin Public Media director Gene Purcell.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported that Shawnicia Youmas was charged Tuesday with homicide by negligent driving.

According to a criminal complaint, Youmas’ vehicle collided with Purcell’s motorcycle near the Wisconsin Public Broadcasting building in Madison on July 27.

Data from the air bag control module in her car showed she was traveling nearly 65 mph 1.5 seconds before the collision. The speed limit in the area was 30 mph.

Purcell was a longtime figure in public broadcasting in Wisconsin. In 2018, he became director of Wisconsin Public Media, which operates Wisconsin Public Radio and PBS Wisconsin.