A three-car wreck at Sherman Boulevard and West Capitol Drive ended with a 36-year-old driver in handcuffs and a 22-year-old passenger in the hospital with serious injuries, according to Milwaukee police. The crash happened just before 5 p.m. yesterday, and sent at least two drivers to area hospitals. Investigators say the initial vehicle slammed into a second car, causing it to roll and collide with a third. The driver accused of sparking the chain reaction allegedly took off, but officers later found him near 48th Street and West Capitol Drive. Police say he suffered non-fatal injuries, was taken to a hospital, and was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run and operating while intoxicated.
Driver located and taken into custody
Milwaukee police said the chaotic scene unfolded when one car struck a second vehicle, causing that car to roll and crash into a third, officials told reporters. The driver who allegedly triggered the crash ran from the intersection but was tracked down a short time later near 48th and Capitol. He was then taken to a hospital with non-fatal injuries and placed under arrest. Police identified the suspect only as a 36-year-old man. Investigators plan to refer the case to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office for potential charges, as reported by FOX6 Milwaukee.
Victims and the city's hit-and-run problem
Police said the 22-year-old passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries. The 29-year-old driver of the car that rolled was also treated for non-fatal injuries. Hit-and-run crashes often leave investigators scrambling, since witnesses and clear surveillance footage can be hard to come by. That puts extra weight on quick tips and camera evidence to track suspects. A TMJ4 analysis found that roughly 32 percent of crashes in Milwaukee are hit-and-runs, which is far higher than in other Wisconsin cities, and reported that only about a quarter of criminal hit-and-run cases led to an arrest between 2019 and 2022.
What comes next
The Milwaukee Police Department said investigators are still collecting evidence and will next forward the case to prosecutors, leaving the Milwaukee County District Attorney to decide whether to file charges. Under Wisconsin practice, hit-and-run and operating while intoxicated offenses that cause serious injury can carry felony penalties, although officials have not yet specified the exact counts in this case, FOX6 Milwaukee reported. Police said anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact the Milwaukee Police Department.
