Milwaukee pursuit, fatal crash; 2 dead, 1 hurt after wreck
MILWAUKEE - Two people are dead following what started as a police chase involving a Milwaukee County sheriff's deputy.
It all started on the 27th Street viaduct around 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 23. Investigators say that is where a deputy tried to pull over a 24-year-old man. However, that driver took off.
Authorities say the driver ran a red light and slammed into two cars at 27th and St. Paul.
The wreck killed a 69-year-old man who was sitting in the passenger seat of one of those cars. The 65-year-old female driver of that same car was seriously hurt. Milwaukee police say she died at the hospital on Thursday afternoon, April 25.
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Meanwhile, the 24-year-old accused of causing the crash is recovering in the hospital. Emergency crews revived him after discovering he did not have a pulse.
Authorities say the man was out on bail in Waukesha County. He has a lengthy criminal history with charges stemming from drugs, guns, recklessly endangering safety and running from police. Officials say the suspect was in possession of a firearm and drugs at the time of the crash.
Drew Jefferson said it was divine intervention that kept him alive and uninjured.
"It’s really like a movie," he said. Everything just slowed down."
Jefferson is one of the survivors from that crash.
He says he was just finishing up a rideshare around the time it happened. He stopped to turn at the corner of 27th and St. Paul when he said he saw a speeding vehicle ahead.
He stopped to turn at the corner of 27th and st. Paul when he says he saw a speeding vehicle ahead.
"I’m just thinking, ‘great, here’s another knucklehead coming here with no headlines on,’" he said. "His car turned and just straight B-lined and just nailed me right here and knocked me against the pole."
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputies say that car was speeding away from them.
They were conducting a traffic stop on the 27th Street viaduct.
"It felt like I was in bumper cars. It was like I heard the boom from their crash," Jefferson said.
He said he was blessed to walk away with only a bruise on his arm.
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The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is investigating the alleged criminal conduct of the striking driver. Milwaukee police are handling the investigation into the crash.
Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect the death of a 65-year-old woman. The video at the top reflects information available the day of the crash.
