Angry Man Jerks Woman's Steering Wheel During Argument, Crash Injures Woman and 4-Year-Old Boy

GREENFIELD, WI — A four-year-old was injured and his mother suffered a broken bone after a male passenger jerked the steering wheel on a female driver, causing it to crash into a utility pole in Greenfield.

On Saturday Feb. 4, police responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on 10900 block of W. Morgan Ave.

According to the criminal complaint, upon arrival, officers spoke with a 31-year-old female driver who told police that as she was driving her vehicle when passenger Manoj Chauhan grabbed the steering wheel causing the vehicle to crash into a utility pole.

The driver explained that she and the defendant had been having a verbal argument while she was driving and she told him that he needed to find another place to stay for the night, police reported.

According to the criminal complaint, she stated that he became upset and began begging her not to leave him. She stated that he then intentionally reached across and grabbed the steering wheel, and suddenly jerked it to the right, forcing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash.

She indicated that she felt a lot of pain to her right leg and foot area and believed she may have a broken bone, the complaint stated.

Their four-year-old child was in the backseat and suffered injury to his eye as a result of the crash.

Police reported that officers observed severe front end damage to the vehicle and distinct damage to the hood of the vehicle consistent with striking a pole.

Chauhan has been charged with two counts of second degree recklessly endangering safety, and one disorderly conduct charge. He faces up to 10 years behind bars if he is convicted of the maximums associated with the felony recklessly endangering safety charges.

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