The circumstances surrounding a fatal motorcycle crash involving Fox Point Village Manager Scott Botcher have led to a charge of hit-and-run, as reported by WISN. Botcher, hailing from Delafield and aged 62, faces allegations for his role in an incident on Interstate 94 near Elmhurst Road in the Town of Delafield last Wednesday, which resulted in the death of motorcyclist Colton Jose, 29, from Sussex.
The tragic event unfolded during peak evening traffic; Jose could not halt his motorcycle in time and collided with an SUV ahead, subsequent to which he was thrown into another lane, only to be struck by Botcher's car, the vehicle failed to stop afterward, continuing westbound and leaving the crash site, creating chaos and despair as the motorcyclist lay pronounced dead at the scene, according to the criminal complaint. Video footage from the Department of Transportation and a fragmented 911 call, that was prematurely disconnected helped investigators link the debris found at the scene to Botcher's vehicle.
Upon questioning, Botcher indicated to officials that he thought he had hit the motorcycle, his ensuing actions were to "just drove home," a statement reflects, as mentioned in the criminal complaint. The village manager was later released on a $1,000 signature bond with mandates including absolute sobriety and the condition of possessing the necessary license in the event of driving.
Fox Point Village President Christine Symchych expressed her grief over the incident, noting the allegations as "horribly sad," acknowledging the delicate nature of the case and assuring no premature judgments would be cast, in an emailed statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, adding that Botcher, with over a decade's service to the Village, is a human being deserving of grace and dignity through these trying times, Symchych said and she underscored her focus on supporting the village staff to ensure their continued attention to community service, and their efforts are appreciated more than ever with the shadow of this tragedy looming over the community.
As the judicial process for this case moves forward, Botcher's roles and responsibilities within the village remain in a state of limbo, with the Fox Point Village Board having passed a motion allowing him the use of accrued paid time off during any "necessary absence," while the Village grapples with both the tragic loss suffered by the Jose family and the serious charges faced by one of their own, as mentioned on WISN.
