A quiet stretch of 104th Street in the Town of Randall turned into a disaster scene yesterday when a pickup truck slammed into a house, killing the driver and leaving the people inside badly shaken but physically unhurt.
The crash was reported around 2:38 a.m. in the 39400 block of 104th Street near 395th Avenue. Investigators say the pickup plowed roughly 10 feet into the residence before stopping, leaving a gaping hole in the home. Neighbors and the homeowners scrambled to evacuate everyone inside while emergency crews rushed in to secure the scene.
The Twin Lakes Fire Department and Rescue Squad arrived after the 2:38 a.m. call and found significant structural damage. The Kenosha County Sheriff's Office told investigators the driver, a 23-year-old man, had been traveling northbound on 395th Avenue at a high rate of speed when he left the roadway and hit the house, according to WTMJ.
What deputies say
According to the Sheriff's Office, the man managed to get out of the wrecked truck after the crash and asked whether anyone inside the home had been hurt. Deputies say he then returned to the vehicle and suffered what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Patch. The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Kenosha County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Damage and response
Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue and several nearby departments reported that the pickup had traveled about 10 feet into the house. The Kenosha County Specialized Response Team and Major Crash Assistance Team were called in to shore up the damaged structure and investigate the crash, Kenosha County Eye reported. Crews also dealt with reports of a possible gas leak and exposed electrical wiring, and county workers were asked to replace stop signs that were damaged in the impact.
The homeowners escaped without injury, although the house was left with major damage. Deputies say the investigation is still active, and officials have not released the man's name while they work to notify his family.
Radio traffic from the scene suggested deputies believed the driver might have been traveling from the Country Thunder music festival, but investigators have not confirmed that detail, and the Sheriff's Office said no further information is being released at this time, per WTMJ.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text at 988.
