Juvenile pedestrian killed after being struck by SUV
A Caledonia firefighter brings equipment back to a fire engine after a traffic incident late Sunday afternoon in the 6400 block of Middle Road in which police said a pedestrian was struck by an SUV that subsequently hit a utility pole. Police and firefighters were dispatched to the scene just west of where 5½ mile intersects Middle Road at 5:50 p.m. Police confirmed later Sunday that the pedestrian, a local girl, had died at the scene.
AUGUST 9, 2015
PETE WICKLUND, pete.wicklund@journaltimes.com
CALEDONIA, WI
A juvenile female was killed after being struck by an SUV late Sunday afternoon on Middle Road; the driver of the vehicle was in police custody Sunday night, Caledonia police said.
The name and age of the victim was not released Sunday night, but Lt. Brian Wall of the Caledonia Police Department confirmed that the girl was a Caledonia resident.
Caledonia police and fire units were dispatched to the scene, located in the 6400 block of Middle Road adjacent to the intersection of Middle and 5½ Mile Road, at 5:50 p.m. Sunday.
At the scene later Sunday, Wall said preliminary investigation showed that the SUV was northbound, crossed over the center lane, went across the southbound lane of Middle Road and struck the girl. The vehicle then hit a utility pole, causing extensive damage to vehicle, a GMC Jimmy.
Wall said the driver of the SUV sustained injuries and was transported to Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital. Wall said he did not know the extent of the injuries as of 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Caledonia fire officials had called Flight for Life but a helicopter never arrived in the area. The ambulance where the girl was taken after the arrival of first responders had not left the scene of the crash by 7 p.m. People were observed walking up to the unit in obvious emotional distress and were being consoled by emergency personnel.
Racine County Medical Examiner Michael Payne confirmed just before 9 p.m. Sunday that his office was called to the scene for a fatality, but he had no further details at the time.
Wall said Sunday night that the SUV driver was in police custody and an investigation was underway to determine if the driver was impaired. Wall did not have information Sunday night regarding where the driver was from.
A shoe that bystanders said belonged to the girl lay in the yard at 6416 Middle Road after the collision. Wall said he did not know if the girl was walking or running at the time of the incident, although bystanders reported seeing a runner just before hearing a crash. The two-lane, rural road has no sidewalks.
Bystanders said both people involved in the collision ended up in a driveway at 6422 Middle Road. Police radio reports said a physician, who stopped at the scene before first responders arrived, said the girl still had a pulse in the early moments after the impact.
Middle Road was closed between Catherine Drive and Stephan Road, and to westbound traffic from 5½ Mile Road, while police and accident technicians from the State Patrol investigated. Wall said at about 9:30 p.m. that he expected investigators to remain on scene for several more hours.
Wall said more information would be released Monday morning.