MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Police are investigating a deadly crash that happened near 76th and Bobolink in Milwaukee's Silver Spring neighborhood.
The crash happened Saturday just after 4 p.m. Police said the 30-year-old driver of a vehicle lost control, and drove about 300 feet across the lots of two businesses, before colliding with a tree.
Police said an unrestrained 12-year-old was killed in the crash. An unrestrained 4-year-old was rushed to a local hospital with "significant injuries" and is in stable condition, police said.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as 12-year-old Jamario D. Johnson.
According to the ME's narrative report, the driver of the vehicle had a medical episode and then crashed into a tree at a high rate of speed. The ME says the driver blew a red light as well.
The driver was taken into custody, MPD said, and charges will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
Several people saw the crash and rushed to help.
"I came over here, helped them, and put a shirt over the little boy to keep him warm, but it was already too late," Raphael Hornsby recalled. After seeing the tragedy, he said he couldn't help but cry.
"To see kids like that really messes you up. It’s one thing for an adult, but a whole other thing for a kid. He was innocent. He didn’t deserve it. Neither one of them did."
Sunday, multiple people including Hornsby and another witness, Pang Vang, came by the crash site to drop off teddy bears and candles.
"The driver started asking if they were breathing," Vang recalled. She said the driver told her she has epilepsy and takes medication for it.
"She explained to me she had a seizure, blacked out, and had no idea what happened."
The driver was arrested after the crash. Police did not confirm if the driver had a seizure, only that they lost control of the vehicle. Charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
TMJ4 reached out to the family but they did not want to comment at this time.
Full MPD statement:
Milwaukee Police are investigating a fatal collision that occurred on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at approximately 4:07 p.m., on the 5900 block of N. 76th St. The 30-year-old driver was traveling south on the 6000 block of N 76th St., at a high speed and drove off the roadway at the southwest intersection of N 76th St and W Florist Ave. The vehicle drove approximately 300 feet across the lots of 2 businesses before collided with a tree on W. Bobolink Pl. A unrestrained 11-year-old passenger sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. A unrestrained 4-year-old passenger sustained significant injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The driver was taken into custody and charges will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story said the child was 11 years old. The actual age is 12 years old.
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