Police: Wrong-way driver causes crash that left 1 dead: "Happening way too much"

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police are investigating a fatal crash that happened on Milwaukee's south side Sunday, December 3rd -- a crash police say was caused by a wrong-way driver.

"I was out walking my dog, and then I see all the cop cars on Cleveland, the tape, and I'm like, 'uh oh something's happened,'" said Janet Rebholz, neighbor.

Just before 6:00 a.m. police and the Milwaukee County medical examiner responded to the area of 27th and Cleveland after a 21-year-old man drove the wrong way and crashed into another vehicle. His car struck another vehicle at a high rate of speed -- seriously injuring a 37-year-old man who was driving, and killing the passenger, identified as 27-year-old Rafael Rojas-Prado.

"I think this is just terrible. This is just happening just way too much," Rebholz said.

Rojas-Prado was pronounced dead at the scene. The 37-year-old was taken to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The 21-year-old alleged wrong-way driver was taken into custody. He was also hospitalized for serious injuries.

"The government needs to take a good look at, I don't know, putting up speed cameras," Rebholz said.

Aurora Saint Luke's Medical Center sits just 2.5 blocks away from 27th and Cleveland where this crash happened. Neighbors told FOX6 that when they heard the sirens, they thought it was just an ambulance responding to the hospital. They weren't expecting this, they said.

"The sad part about that is - like a person passed away," Rebholz said.

At this time, it is not clear why the 21-year-old was going the wrong way or whether drugs and alcohol were a factor in the crash.

The identities of those involved are not being released at this time, pending notifications of their families. Charges against the 21-year-old driver will be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days.