A Twin Lakes man was charged Monday in the death of his former fiancée on the Fourth of July in an alleged drunken driving accident.

Bryan W. Fusinato, 39, faces 15 years in prison, if convicted of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle for the death of Sara Heide, whom a defense attorney described as Fusinato’s ex-fiancée.

Fusinato said he had invited Heide out for drinks at an Illinois tavern, where they played pool before the bar shut down around 2 or 3 a.m.

About 3:45 a.m., Kenosha County sheriff’s deputies were sent to Highway Z, east of Highway P, in Randall, where they found Fusinato’s Pontiac, license plate GRIM, in a north ditch.

Heide was dead in the car. Her neck was broken, a medical examiner said.

Fusinato got medical care at the scene before he was taken to Froedtert Hospital in West Allis. He did not appear seriously hurt.

During an interview with authorities in the emergency room, Fusinato admitted drinking and driving, according to authorities. In fact, he reportedly said, he knew he was driving because Heide could not drive a stick shift.

A deputy said Fusinato smelled of alcohol, his speech slow and slurred as he described how Heide grabbed the steering wheel of his car.

A rescue worker said Fusinato said Heide grabbed the wheel because they were arguing. But a deputy said Fusinato said Heide grabbed the wheel because he he had passed out or fallen asleep, not because they were fighting.

Fusinato said he had three or four beers and two or three shots of Jagermeister a few hours before the crash.

When asked if he was under the influence of alcohol, Fusinato reportedly answered: “I would imagine so.”

A blood test was done, but results were not available Monday.

A defense attorney challenged the charge against Fusinato, arguing that Fusinato’s statement could mean anything. A prosecutor agreed, but at this stage of a criminal case, inferences that Fusinato meant he was legally intoxicated were allowed.

A commissioner found probable cause and set a $20,000 cash bond.

Fusinato had not posted that bond as of Monday afternoon, but told a lawyer he could afford to post up to $100,000.

Fusinato, who has a 21-year-old son, has no criminal history and has worked for the past 11 years as a machinist in Illinois.

His income and home assets mean Fusinato would not qualify for a public defender. A hearing was set for July 13 to give him time to find an attorney.