Milwaukee hit-and-run crash kills 4-year-old girl, suspect arrested

MILWAUKEE - A 4-year-old girl was killed and her 27-year-old mother was injured in a Milwaukee hit-and-run crash on Tuesday morning, April 30.

It happened around 11:30 a.m. as the mother and daughter walked across the street near Teutonia and Vera, just south of Good Hope.

The woman who was hit and injured has been identified as 27-year-old Gloria Hymes. The 4-year-old has been identified as Zekani Hymes-Wilson. 

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Gloria Hymes' mother, Erica Hymes, confirmed their identities to FOX6 News Tuesday evening.

Also on Tuesday evening, police confirmed two people were arrested, believing one to be the driver in the hit-and-run.

Officers observed a vehicle with two occupants that was believed to be connected to the incident and attempted to conduct a traffic stop and the vehicle fled.  During the pursuit, the vehicle crashed in a parking lot near 72nd and North. Following the crash, the driver complied with officers and was arrested.  The passenger fled on foot and was also arrested. 

Both subjects were taken to the hospital for medical clearance.

Police said they continue to seek at least one other person of interest.

"Just kept on going as if they hit a pothole. Like they ran over a box. Like it was nothing," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. "That baby girl is dead, is gone. That's a little girl who won't finish kindergarten, who won't finish first grade."

Earlier in the evening on Tuesday, police confirmed that the vehicle involved was recovered, abandoned on the railroad tracks near 81st and Calumet.

The mayor was emotional – and did not hold back his feelings on this incident. 

"It pisses me off. It pisses me off to no end that a mom is hurt and that a child is gone from this world because somebody decided to go down the street at whatever speed, regardless of what speed it was," Johnson said. "You hit human beings, you hurt people, and then you just left. You just left."

Police have asked the community to come forward with information. MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman said it's a matter of when, not if, the person responsible will be held accountable.

"This is unacceptable," Norman said. "If this was your family member, how would you feel?"

Norman said investigators have evidence that they are reviewing, and they will collaborate with other departments if needed. 

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"There's cameras all around us," he said. "When people want to do wrong, do you understand? You're not doing wrong in a bubble. There's eyes all over the place, and we're increasing the eyes."

"You can help the family start to heal now by turning yourself in," Ashanti Hamilton, director of the city's Office of Community Wellness and Safety, said, his comments directed at the driver who fled the scene. "Passions are running high. When something like this happens…So help us get past this moment. And turn yourself in. Because no stone is going to be left unturned in trying to solve it."\

Charges regarding those that were arrested will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days.

Anyone with information is asked to call MPD at 414-935-7360; to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 tips app.

Witnesses shocked

Antoinette Jenkins and Theresa Alwahsh work at the Domino's in front of where the crash happened. They told FOX6 the woman lived in the area and would often bring her daughter in to eat. 

"Everybody was panicking, they were praying, trying to see was she OK, was she fine or not," Jenkins said. "Basically, I saw her take her last breath."

Alwahsh said the child's death is shocking, but reckless driving has become somewhat expected.

"It's like this all the time down this street," she said. "You can sit down here and just watch. Speeding constantly back and forth, back and forth."

In the meantime, Jenkins and Alwahsh said there needs to be some kind of change; families in the area don't deserve to live in fear.

"They have to do better. We live here we raise our children here," said Alwahsh.

"We're human, and we just want to live," Jenkins said.

Pedestrian safety

The crash happened just hours before AARP Wisconsin organized an event with author Jonathon Stalls, focused on pedestrian safety.

"This is preventable. These kinds of things are preventable," Stalls said. "Actually seeing their mobility as legitimate is something that... we have a lot of work in front of us to put at the forefront."

He underscored the need for a reckless driving solution, which includes designing roads to be safer for everyone.

Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works told FOX6 News that while the stretch of Teutonia isn’t considered its "high injury network," Teutonia is scheduled for full reconstruction between Good Hope and Mill Road.

That could include bump outs and lane reductions, but that process starts with public input next year.

More reaction

WARNING: Some of the language in the video below is not suitable for all viewers.

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