A high-speed crash on Thiensville's Main Street turned deadly Wednesday afternoon when a car jumped the curb and slammed into the corner of a downtown storefront, killing the driver and leaving a jagged scar on a busy intersection that locals know all too well. Thiensville police say the vehicle was heading north on Main Street at a high rate of speed just after 2 p.m. when it struck the northeast corner at Freistadt Road. The driver, who was alone in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene, as per FOX6 News Milwaukee.
On Friday, the Thiensville Police Department identified the victim as 48-year-old John Abbott of Grafton, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee. An autopsy is pending as investigators work to determine what caused Abbott's car to leave the roadway. Police are asking anyone with information to call 262-242-2100.
Witnesses Recall Car ‘Whizzing’ Through Intersection
People working nearby told reporters the car tore through the intersection at what looked like an almost unreal speed before slamming into the Egelhoff Lawn Mower Service building and crumpling against the corner. One witness estimated the vehicle was traveling "probably what I would estimate to be 100 miles an hour," while a nearby restaurant owner said "there wasn't much of a car left," TMJ4 reported.
Staff at the lawn-mower shop told reporters they were relieved that no one inside was hurt, given how directly the building took the hit.
Crash Site Already Marked For Big Changes
The collision happened at a corner the village has already singled out for a major face-lift. The intersection is part of the planned Thiensville Crossing redevelopment, a tax-incremental project that calls for new housing and upgraded streetscape work along Main and Freistadt, according to Village of Thiensville materials.
The project has already focused local attention on how traffic moves through that stretch of downtown and on how safe the area is for people on foot.
Investigators Seek Video, Witness Accounts
Thiensville police say the crash remains under active investigation and have not released information about why the vehicle was traveling so fast before impact. Investigators are asking anyone who saw the car in the moments leading up to the crash or who has surveillance or dashcam footage to contact the Thiensville Police Department at 262-242-2100, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee.
