Police pursuit ends with teens injured in 2-car crash near 43rd and Forest Home
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Authorities responded to a two-car crash Tuesday morning, March 18 near 43rd and Forest Home.
According to police, shortly before 6:30 a.m., a vehicle fleeing from the West Milwaukee Police Department ran a red light and collided with another vehicle. The impact reportedly caused the fleeing vehicle to roll and strike a third vehicle.
Jerry Harrison was stopped at a red light when he saw the crash happen. Seconds late, his car was also hit.
“Sort of disbelief. I’ve seen a lot of this on TV, never in person," said Harrison. “He got T-boned, ripped his wheel off and the other car spun out and hit me while I was sitting still.”
The driver, a 17-year-old, was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. A 16-year-old passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle and was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. No other injuries were reported.
“Forest Home avenue is essentially a freeway there. It’s not unusual for cars to be driving 45, 50 miles an hour," said John Thiele, a neighbor.
Hours later, the owner of the vehicle arrived at the scene.
“Continuously pressing my key fob to hit the alarm. Nothing. Nothing at all," said the owner, who asked CBS 58 not to share his name. “So it’s like if you wouldn’t have stole it, I could’ve went to work and they probably would not have been hurt.”
West Milwaukee police have confirmed that the Tuesday morning chase that ended in a crash near 43rd and Forest Home was during a pursuit, and that charges are being referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
Neighbors say reckless driving happens far too often at this intersection and they have a message for drivers.
“It’s got how many, 1, 2, 3, 4 – it’s got seven or eight entry points to it," said neighbor Jo Haselhoef. “Come on. You got brothers, you got sisters, you got kids, you got parents, you got grandparents. Slow down. It’s not worth going so fast. There’s other people in the world, too.”