Driver Ejected In Deadly Wauwatosa Crash: Report

WAUWATOSA, WI -- A man was transported to the hospital with serious injuries after police in Wauwatosa say he fled a traffic stop, crashed his vehicle and was ejected from the car he was driving at the time of the crash.

On Thursday, Sep. 21, just before 2 a.m., a Wauwatosa Police Officer was on patrol in the area of N. 74th Street, when he saw a vehicle turn east onto Milwaukee Ave. from a neighborhood at N. 74th St. He saw the vehicle accelerate away from him and suspected the driver may have been related to an incident earlier that morning.

In that earlier incident at 12:30 a.m., Wauwatosa Police took a report of an attempted motor vehicle theft near the same area. The officer did not know whether the man who fled from police at 2 a.m. was related to the 12:30 a.m. incident, so he made the decision to investigate, according to reports.

Wauwatosa police say the officer initiated a traffic stop with the fleeing vehicle at W. Vliet St. and N. 60th St. Police said the driver pulled over and stopped in the 5800 block of W. Vliet St. at just before 2 a.m. As the officer was getting out of his patrol car, the driver of the vehicle fled eastbound at a high rate of speed from the traffic stop.

Police say a vehicle pursuit was initiated by the officer in an attempt to apprehend the driver, however,
he failed to stop, and continued to flee at a high rate of speed.

Police say he lost control of his vehicle and crashed at the intersection of W. Vliet St. and N. 35th St. The driver, and sole occupant, was ejected from the vehicle as a result of the crash.

According to police, the pursuing officer immediately rendered aid to the man until medical personnel arrived. The driver, a man from Milwaukee, was transported to the hospital by ambulance with serious
injuries. No other vehicles were struck and no innocent bystanders were injured.

Police are reporting that the man was arrested on suspicion of fleeing an officer, driving a motor vehicle while on suspension, and drunk driving - second offense.

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