Police officials also recommend no motorist leave their car to assist birds on a roadway.
Police: Driver's speed at issue in Highway 30 fatal collision
MADISON, WI
By Tony Galli
Updated: Jul 06, 2016 7:20 PM EST
MADISON, WI (WKOW) -- Court records show police detectives have suspicions over the speed of a driver who crashed into a McFarland woman as she tried to usher ducklings across Highway 30 in Madison.
45-year old Kimberly Zeier died as a result of the June 22 collision.
An affidavit filed in connection with the search of a 22-year old Deerfield man's car and the vehicle's computer system quotes the man estimating his speed with the statement, "I know I was not going faster than 80."
The speed limit on the stretch of the highway where the fatal collision took place is 55.
The search was approved by a judge based on the suspicion the crime of negligent homicide, or first degree degree reckless homicide took place.
Records state data was retrieved from the car's computer as a result of the search.
Records show a search of the driver's phone indicated he may have placed a call one minute before the collision, despite his denials over the using his phone.
A Madison Police official says the man has cooperated with the investigation, and expressed regret over the death at the scene. Police officials also recommend no motorist leave their car to assist birds on a roadway. Wildlife experts say birds are moving across roads during hatching season.The man has yet to respond to requests from 27 News for comment. 27 News is not identifying the driver because he has not been arrested, cited or criminally charged at this time. His record includes a citation for driving with a suspended license in December.
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UPDATE: Woman killed on Highway 30 identified
By Robyn Turner Posted: Jun 22, 2016 4:47 PM EST Updated: Jun 24, 2016 4:05 PM EST
Also on WKOW.com
Affidavit: driver's statement, call log conflict in Highway 30 deadly collision
UPDATE: High school classmate reacts after McFarland mom killed helping ducklings cross Highway 30 is identified
UPDATE (WKOW) -- The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the woman killed Wednesday on Highway 30 as 45-year-old Kimberly Zeier of McFarland.
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UPDATE (WKOW) -- On Wednesday afternoon, a woman, who died due to the injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle on WI Hwy. 30, was attempting to escort birds off of the highway. That is according to the Madison police. The incident remains under investigation. However, according to the police report, the driver of the vehicle involved is cooperating with police.
The highway was closed for several hours. It re-opened at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.
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UPDATE (WKOW) -- Madison police now say the woman who was struck on Highway 30 Wednesday afternoon has died from the injuries sustained.
The investigation continues and the eastbound lanes of Highway 30 remain closed.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison police are investigating a serious car vs pedestrian crash.
The eastbound lanes of Highway 30, between I-90/94 and Highway 51, are currently closed. The initial reports indicate the a woman suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck. The eastbound lanes of traffic could remain closed for a couple of hours and drivers are advised to use alternate routes.
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Affidavit: driver's statement, call log conflict in Highway 30 deadly collision
By Tony Galli
Posted: Jun 30, 2016 7:27 PM EST Updated: Jun 30, 2016 7:29 PM EST
Also on WKOW.com
UPDATE: High school classmate reacts after McFarland mom killed helping ducklings cross Highway 30 is identified
UPDATE: Woman killed on Highway 30 identified
MADISON (WKOW) -- Dane County court records show the driver who hit and killed a McFarland woman as she tried to shepherd ducklings across a busy highway told investigators he was not on his phone, despite call data to the contrary.
Authorities say 45-year old mother of two Kimberly Zeier was killed when she left her car to the help the waterfowl June 22 on Highway 30 in Madison, and was hit by another car. Wildlife experts say birds have been spotted crossing other roadways as well during this hatching season, and authorities caution drivers to stay in their cars if they spot birds.
In an affidavit to support a search of a 22-year old Deerfield man's phone, authorities say a witness to the collision heard the driver say, " 'I was just switching lanes. I didn't see her. I'm sorry.' "
While Madison Police officials say the Deerfield driver has been cooperating with investigators, a judge approved the search based on the suspicion the crime of homicide by negligent operation occurred, or the crime of first degree reckless homicide.
The affidavit states the driver told detectives "...he threw the phone onto the front passenger seat when he got into car after work and did not place any calls or otherwise utilize his phone while driving."
A Madison Police incident report states the collision took place at 2:29 p.m.
Court records state a responding Madison police officer was given permission at the scene to inspect the Deerfield man's phone. "She looked at the call history log and saw there was an outgoing call placed at 2:28pm."
The affidavit states the officer took custody of the phone at that time.
27 News has been unable to reach the Deerfield man for comment.
A Madison Police spokesperson says investigators continue to wait for the driver's blood test results.
27 News is not identifying the driver because he has not been arrested, nor criminally charged, or given any citations at this time.
Online court records show the man's driver's license was suspended in 2012. They also show he drove a car in December while his license was suspended, and was fined.
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UPDATE: High school classmate reacts after McFarland mom killed helping ducklings cross Highway 30 is identified
By Kathryn Larson
Posted: Jun 23, 2016 6:23 PM EST Updated: Jun 24, 2016 6:41 PM EST
Also on WKOW.com
Affidavit: driver's statement, call log conflict in Highway 30 deadly collision
UPDATE: Woman killed on Highway 30 identified
UPDATE (WKOW) -- Just days after a McFarland mother is struck and killed helping ducklings cross a busy highway in Madison, comes reaction to the tragedy from a high school classmate. 45-year old Kimberly Zeier is now the 10th student who has died in McFarland High Schools Class of '89.
Eric Kinnaird is in charge of class reunions. He says it will be hard not to see her face at the next one. Besides her smile, Kinnaird says she loved animals.
"Someone told me that she saved a baby robin out of a tree, someone's tree like a week before that," Kinnaird said.
Kinnaird says details on the funeral arrangements will be forthcoming in future days. The Medical Examiner's Office says Zeier died from injuries sustained when struck by another driver.
Madison Police say the crash remains under investigation. They urge anyone who comes across wildlife to call 9-11, instead of getting out on a busy road.
MPD also says those ducklings did make it across the highway safely.
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UPDATE (WKOW) -- The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the woman killed Wednesday on Highway 30 as 45-year-old Kimberly Zeier of McFarland.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- A McFarland mother was hit and killed by a car after trying to help baby ducklings cross a busy Madison highway.
"Got a mom, she took a day off work to spend with her kids," Madison Police Spokesman Joel DeSpain said while trying to fight back tears.
"You know because of baby ducks, she is no longer with us," he said.
Police say Wednesday afternoon, the 45-year-old mother with her two kids in the car, got out to help the ducklings.
"Tragically, there was a motorist who didn't see her and struck her," DeSpain said.
Dane County Communications received no phone calls about the ducklings, but say they had more than a dozen 911 calls about the fatality.
"Call police if you need to, call State Patrol, but just stay in your vehicle, don't stop in the middle of traffic," DeSpain said.
"I would do what law enforcement is saying," Sauk County DNR Wildlife Biologist Nancy Frost said. It's hatching season and Frost says that brings an increase in waterfowl to the roadways.
"They like to be in the water and unfortunately, the road is in the way of the two water sources," Frost said.
A close call happened Wednesday night on the Beltline when a group of geese tried to cross. DeSpain says getting out for these water fowl is dangerous.
"If you try to assist wildlife, it can have tragic consequences," he said.