"Sounded like an explosion:" Menomonee Falls man killed in crash; alcohol found in striking vehicle



WEST ALLIS -- A 50-year-old man from Menomonee Falls was killed in a crash early Thursday morning, February 23rd in West Allis. Two others were hurt.

It happened on Greenfield Avenue near 98th Street around 1:15 a.m.

The Milwaukee County medical examiner identified the victim as Thomas Jorgenson. He died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries.

Fatal crash on Greenfield Avenue near 98th Street in West Allis



The medical examiner's report says Jorgenson was the driver of a vehicle that was struck by another vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed. The report says Jorgenson's vehicle was headed east on Greenfield, turning north onto 98th Street. It was struck on the passenger side while crossing the westbound lanes of Greenfield Avenue. The striking vehicle was headed west on Greenfield Avenue.

Witnesses said they saw the striking vehicle flying down the road.

"The sound was like a jet engine flying past you. Pulled my clothes with it and everything," AJ Kisley said.

Then, he heard an even more frightening noise.

Fatal crash on Greenfield Avenue near 98th Street in West Allis



"It was like an explosion. I couldn`t even tell that the car got hit by another vehicle. It looked like the one car went around a pole and got bent around a pole, it was that mangled," Kisley said.

The report says the driver of the striking vehicle tried to flee the scene, but the vehicle wouldn't move after it stopped on the median at Greenfield Avenue. The report says the driver of the striking vehicle fled on foot -- but he was eventually arrested.

Fatal crash on Greenfield Avenue near 98th Street in West Allis



"He was in the median, and he was revving his engine, trying to drive away. The car just couldn't move," David Beverly said.

Beverly said the driver ran into his backyard. He and his wife alerted officers, and he was caught. A female passenger in the striking driver's vehicle was taken into custody as well -- and taken to the hospital. West Allis police said the driver and passenger in the striking vehicle both sustained injuries, with the passenger sustaining significant injuries.

Fatal crash on Greenfield Avenue near 98th Street in West Allis



"He had no care in the world about her. He just wanted to get away," Beverly said.

Open containers of alcohol were found in the striking vehicle, the medical examiner's report says.

The report says the posted speed limit in the area where this crash happened is 30 miles-per-hour.

West Allis police said speed and alcohol appeared to be factors in this crash.

Fatal crash on Greenfield Avenue near 98th Street in West Allis



FOX6 News spoke with Jorgensen's mother on the phone Thursday afternoon. She said her son left behind two children in their 20s.

 

 

 

The crash remains under investigation by the West Allis Police Department Traffic Investigators.

Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for charging review.

 

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