Police identify Hustisford woman killed in crash in Brown Deer; striking driver allegedly impaired

BROWN DEER -- Brown Deer police have identified the 25-year-old Hustisford woman killed in a crash on Saturday night, February 13th near 60th and Brown Deer Road.

Lauren Unertl

The deceased has been identified as Lauren Unertl. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passenger, 31-year-old Edgar Barbosa of Hartford was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The crash happened just before midnight.

Police say the driver of the striking vehicle in this case was traveling northbound on 60th Street and went through a red light -- striking an SUV Unertl was driving. Unertl was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the striking vehicle, a 25-year-old Milwaukee man, is believed to have been impaired at the time of the crash. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Lauren Unertl

His identity hasn't been released pending charges being filed in this case by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.

This incident was the third fatal crash to occur in Brown Deer in just over a week's time.

Jordyn Mueller

Jordyn Mueller is Lauren Unertl's cousin. Mueller tells FOX6 News they recently went shopping together, and the jewelry Lauren bought will now be worn at her funeral.

"Two weeks before she passed, we went to get these. She will be wearing that when she goes," Mueller said.

Mueller says she and her cousin were inseparable.

Lauren Unertl and Jordyn Mueller

"We were a month apart in age. We grew up together. We shared a crib since six months old. We did everything together," Mueller said.

As she created a collage of memories with photos of Lauren Unertl and her mother and father, Mueller on Monday, February 15th recalled the happy times.

"She`s amazing. Her personality could not be matched. A flower child, to put it simply. She was one with nature and everything. There was no anger in her. There was no guilt. She loved life," Mueller said.

Upon learning of Unertl's death, Mueller said "I just fell apart."

Even more painful is the fact that police suspect the striking driver was impaired.

"I'm so angry. This is the one thing she believed in more than anything. If she had a beer -- she was not getting behind the wheel," Mueller said.

That's a practice Mueller hopes others will adopt so her family's loss won't be in vain.

"She`s not the first, and won't be the last lost to drunk driving -- but if she could just change one person's mind, that would be OK," Mueller said.

Charges could be filed in this case as soon as Tuesday, February 16th.

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