Arrest made in connection to crash that dragged teen for miles in Fond du Lac County
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A West Bend teen is behind bars, awaiting charges in connection with a deadly series of car crashes in Fond du Lac County early Sunday morning, Dec. 1.
A 19-year-old woman was found dead after she was hit by a car and dragged for miles.
The Fond du Lac Sheriff and the District Attorney held a news briefing Friday, Dec. 5.
Repeatedly throughout, they said that the crash investigation was the most complex they have ever worked on because there were two crash scenes, many people involved, and not a lot of cooperation.
But they said they're committed to getting answers.
Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said, "We're doing everything in our power to get to the truth, to get to the bottom of what happened."
What they know is many people were at an underage drinking party at a home in the village of Auburn in the early morning hours of December 31st.
Several cars left at the same time.
Five people, including four teens, were in a car that went off a rural road and flipped. Four people were thrown from the car.
19-year-old Taya Grimes of Hartford was one of two people laying in the road.
She was hit by another car that was coming from the party.
Waldschmidt said, "Sadly, this vehicle left the scene and drug her three miles into and through the village of Kewaskum."
Grimes' body was found south of Kewaskum.
In a GoFundMe post, her brother said she "brought light to people’s darkest days with her bubbly personality and sense of humor."
Authorities arrested 19-year-old Jatziel Encarnacion of West Bend in connection to the death, but he has not yet been charged.
Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney said, "No charges have been filed as we have not yet had an opportunity to review the full investigation."
And Sheriff Waldschmidt said a lack of cooperation began before they even got to the first crash. "People in vehicles chose to leave that scene rather than remain there and help those who were injured."
Investigators acknowledged many unknowns. They don't yet know who was drunk or on drugs at the time of the crashes.
They also don't know if Taya Grimes died as a result of the first crash or from being dragged.
Toney said, "It is very difficult to determine if somebody may have been alive when they were struck by a vehicle or not. Which presents some of those challenges."
The authorities also don't know if Jatziel Encarnacion knew he was dragging her as he drove away.
Waldschmidt said, "That's part of what we're trying to determine. Who knew and what did they know and when did they know it is key to this investigation."
Despite little cooperation from those involved, Fond du Lac officials pledge to make progress.
Waldschmidt said, "We owe it to Taya, we owe it to her family, and we owe it to the other victims and their families, to get to the bottom of this."
Authorities conducted more interviews earlier Friday, saying they gathered more essential information.
But both the sheriff and the district attorney say this will be a lengthy investigation.
Waldschmidt said another teen, a 17-year-old from Iron Ridge, was also likely hit by Encarnacion's car after the first crash. Taya Grimes' autopsy and several toxicology reports are expected sometime next week.
He said his office could send reports to the DA's office next week for charges.