Suspect sought: 1 dead, 1 in critical condition after hit-and-run near 17th and Highland

MILWAUKEE -- A woman is fighting for her life after she was struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run early Thursday morning, Aug. 16 in Milwaukee. A passenger in the vehicle she was in was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"I was thinking 'oh my God, somebody hit a car,'" said Misha Williams, visiting family.

The sound of the impact woke neighbors near 17th and Highland Thursday morning. The crash happened shortly before 4 a.m.

Crash near 17th and Highland

"Try to go back to sleep. Try to go to sleep. Next thing you know, the lights were flashing through the windows," said Williams.

Police said a 41-year-old man died at the hospital, and a 31-year-old woman was in critical condition. First responders said the situation was grave, and backup was needed.

"Upon their arrival, they determined they had multiple patients, some of whom were in extremely grave condition and that they were going to need some additional help," said Deputy Chief Aaron Lipski, with the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Crash near 17th and Highland

A firefighter also had to be taken to the hospital from the scene.

"One of our firefighters suffered a minor injury...hand laceration; dealing with the jagged metal and glass around a car," said Lipski.

Police are searching for the driver of the suspect vehicle. They said it's a silver pickup truck that was left at the scene. A witness told FOX6 he saw multiple people exit the suspect vehicle after the cash.

Police are investigating whether speed was a factor.

Regardless, first responders encourage everyone to slow down on the road.

"It's just not worth it. Just slow down. Once the physics take over, when you are traveling at a high rate of speed, there's only a few options for how that's going to end up," said Lipski.

The investigation is ongoing.