13-year-old Milwaukee girl charged in fatal hit-and-run crash

MILWAUKEE -- A night of stealing cars and joy riding leads to death. Now, a 13-year-old girl faces multiple charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash that happened near 65th and Hampton on Milwaukee's north side on the morning of Monday, August 6th.

The accused faces charges including first degree reckless homicide, hit-and-run resulting in death and operating a vehicle without the owner's consent.

She and her friends allegedly stole a car and later struck and killed 60-year-old Ronald Forbes, who was riding his bicycle to work just before 7 a.m.

The complaint indicates the girl and another person had stolen the car from a home on N. 39th St. and was seen driving the vehicle at a high rate of speed. According to the passenger in the car who talked to police, she warned the 13-year-old girl to watch out for the bicyclist. But the complaint says the 13-year-old seemed to be driving right toward the victim intentionally.

The complaint says after striking Forbes, the 13-year-old "was laughing about striking the victim stating something like, 'He shouldn't have been in the street.'"

After some investigation, officers tracked down the accused at a home on N. 39th St. In the complaint, the girl stated, "I was going fast, about 80 mph and the music was loud." She told officers she went through a red light at 68th and Hampton, and then through a second light. Moments later, she apparently "saw a lot of traffic then heard a 'bump or boom' noise and turned around."

Immediately after the crash, the complaint indicates the girl turned the corner, parked the car and jumped into another vehicle that had pulled up behind her. She asked the boys in that vehicle to take her home. On the way home, that vehicle ran out of gas and the complaint says "she tried to steal another van to get home."

If convicted, the girl faces up to 60 years in prison. She'll be in juvenile court on Friday, September 7th.

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