A late-night crash at a busy north side intersection has left a Milwaukee neighborhood grieving and a 19-year-old facing felony charges. Prosecutors say a teen driver ran a red light and slammed into a three-wheeled motorcycle just after midnight on May 26 at Fond du Lac Avenue and Roosevelt Drive, killing 39-year-old Leandre "Turtle" Brown.
Brown, a father and co-owner of Syrs Restaurant and Lounge, died at the scene. In the days since, friends, relatives and regulars have turned the corner and his bar into a growing memorial of flowers, balloons and handwritten messages.
What prosecutors say
According to a criminal complaint filed this week, surveillance video from the area shows a Hyundai entering the intersection, running a red light and striking a Can-Am Spyder three-wheeled motorcycle that had the green. The complaint identifies 19-year-old John Ashley as the Hyundai's driver.
Investigators say Ashley admitted he has never had a driver's license, a claim a Wisconsin Department of Transportation records check backed up. A court commissioner set his cash bond at $7,500, and prosecutors have charged him with two felonies, as reported by FOX6.
Community remembers Brown
Outside Syrs Restaurant and Lounge, loved ones released balloons and placed flowers as they shared stories about Brown's steady presence in the neighborhood. Family members, quoted by CBS58, said he was known to many as "Turtle" and leaves behind children and a tight circle of longtime friends.
People who gathered at the crash site also vented about traffic problems at the intersection, saying speeding and red-light running have made that corner feel dangerous for years.
Intersection, data and safety work
Those neighborhood complaints line up with broader efforts to track where serious crashes are happening. The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation's Complete Communities project maintains a Motor Vehicle Collision Dashboard and a list of "corridors of concern" that officials use to prioritize safety work.
County staff say those tools help engineers and policymakers decide where to focus enforcement and roadway changes in order to cut down on deadly crashes. Earlier coverage of the midnight crash highlighted that dashboard and the planning behind it.
Next steps in the case
The Milwaukee Police Department says charges in the case will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney for review and that Ashley is due back in court, according to a department release published by Urban Milwaukee. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner has identified the crash victim as Leandre Brown, local reports show.
Prosecutors and upcoming court records will determine the final list of charges and the next court dates as the case continues to move through the system.
