MONROE — The Argyle defendant who backed his truck into a woman in a Colony Brands parking lot has struck a plea deal in which he was given a 60-day conditional jail sentence, a withheld judgement on one count against him and 12 months’ probation.

District Attorney Craig Nolen and defendant Cole Syvrud’s attorneys approved the agreement on Dec. 2 in Green County Circuit Court before Judge Faun M. Phillipson. 

Authorities said the Ford F450 work truck Syvrud was driving was backing up in a parking lot in the 1100 block of 7th Avenue just before 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, when he fatally struck 28-year-old Carmen E. Hale, a Colony Brands employee.

The incident occurred along a driveway on the side of the building, according to the criminal complaint. Syvrud had been working at the Colony Brands site as a contractor for an outside firm, while Hale was walking across the parking lot of her employer.

“The Court approved the stayed entry of a judgment of conviction on Count 1 (Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle), for a period of 24 months pursuant to the terms of the written agreement filed with the Court…” said Nolen, in an email to The Times.  “…While a judgment of conviction was entered on Count 2 (Reckless Driving Causing Injury), and the Court withheld sentence and placed Cole D. Syvrud on probation for a period of 12 months…”

The 12-month term was the “maximum time-period for probation” on the offense, Nolen added.

If he were to be convicted and sentenced, Syvrud would have faced potentially a decade in prison. The homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle charge is a class G felony punishable by a maximum possible sentence of 10 years and a $25,000 fine.

Police initially responded to the incident after receiving a report of “a person … pinned under a vehicle and may not be breathing,” according to a statement. Despite efforts of first-responders and passersby, Hale, of Monroe, died of her injuries on scene. 

It is estimated the victim was already about 50 feet away when the truck began backing up. The distance between impact and the vehicle stopping was estimated at about another 33 feet.

Syvrud pleaded not guilty to the charges last May and had been free on a $5,000 signature bond. 

Syvrud had no other apparent criminal history in Wisconsin, save for a single traffic ticket, according to court records.