Teenager dies, several hurt after collision on Milwaukee's south side

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police are investigating a fatal crash which happened near 31st and Becher on Milwaukee's south side early Saturday, September 6th. The wreck happened just after 12:30 a.m.

Officials say the 17-year-old victim's car was westbound on Becher when it was struck by a northbound car which did not stop for a stop sign. Two other people in the victim's car were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the striking vehicle, a 23-year-old man from Milwaukee suffered a non-life threatening injury and was taken to a hospital for treatment. His 28-year-old female passenger was not hurt and remained at the scene. Two other passengers in the striking vehicle fled on foot after the accident.

Investigators say based on witness statements and the amount of damage, it appears the northbound car was traveling at a high rate of speed. Police also say the vehicle the victims were in at the time of the accident had recently been stolen from a nearby neighborhood.

Witnesses say it was hectic as several passengers ran away from the scene.

Believing something bad will happen, doesn't really prepare you for when it finally does.

"You never know who is going to come around that corner," said witness, Cynthia Frith.

Frith has seen cars speed, run the stop sign, even accidents, but nothing fatal -- until now.

"Sadly I was the last person who talked to the kid that died," said Frith.

Frith witnessed a chaotic scene for broken glass, twisted cars, and screaming people.

"Three people got out of a car and was yelling, 'we got to go, we got to go'," Frith said.

Frith says she consoled a female passenger of the striking car, also a young man from the other car, who died from his injuries.

"He could barely grasp for breath," Frith said.

She was among it all.

"It sounded like one of the houses out here had an explosion," said Kathy Stankiewicz, a woman who lives nearby.

While Stankiewicz was two houses down, police and paramedics were already on their way. All she could do was watch.

"Then I think they had to cut the people out of the car it was that badly demolished. You couldn't tell what kind of car it was," said Stankiewicz.

Frith didn't know until police told her, the car hit, was recently stolen.

The other passengers in it were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Hours later, she was the only one left, still trying to cope with a night -- one can hardly prepare for.

"I've never seen a fatality like that. I've never witnessed someone getting pulled out of a car not be breathing," Frith said.

Police say the victim was a 17-year-old from Milwaukee.

As for the striking vehicle, the driver is a 23-year-old Milwaukee man. He suffered non-life threatening injuries.

A female passenger was okay, and two other passengers left before police got there.



Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.