On Saturday, a tragic crash claimed the life of one individual and left another in critical condition when a DoorDash driver, operating without a license, collided with an ATV in Milwaukee. The driver, identified as 23-year-old Jaden Brown-Smith, has been charged with two felony counts related to the incident, as reported by WISN.
According to WISN, the collision occurred at the intersection of 28th Street and Concordia Avenue. The ATV, which is not street-legal in Milwaukee, was carrying two riders at the time of the impact. Victor Ramos, who police say was driving the ATV, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, while Brittney Harshman, the passenger, sustained critical injuries. In the aftermath, prosecutors revealed that Brown-Smith had never held a driver's license.
Brown-Smith's criminal history with unlicensed driving came to light after the accident. Fox6Now.com reports that the accused faced previous citations for driving without a license, one occasion following a speeding incident on May 21, and the other after a crash the following day.
Despite these convictions on July 22 and July 30, respectively, Brown-Smith was behind the wheel once more on the day of the fatal crash. According to a criminal complaint, in his statement to the police, Brown-Smith mentioned he had completed a delivery for DoorDash in his brother's car just before the collision. Brown-Smith also confessed he swerved in an attempt to avoid the ATV, which he claimed entered the street from an alley, "but could not stop in time to prevent the crash," as obtained by CBS58.
Brown-Smith is now facing serious charges which include knowingly operating without a valid license causing death, and causing great bodily harm. His initial court appearance is scheduled for today, drawing attention to the consequences of unlicensed driving, and the broader implications for gig economy companies that employ drivers in various capacities, as per CBS58.
