'Reckless at this intersection:' 2 officers hurt after squad struck by vehicle, driver in custody

MILWAUKEE -- A grisly crash on Milwaukee's south side early Friday morning, March 29 injured several people including two police officers.

Authorities say the driver of the striking vehicle disregarded the stop sign near Muskego and Rogers, and caused the collision around 2:25 a.m. The impact was so forceful the cars took out a pole and damaged a building.

"The guy, he was knocked out, just laying with his mouth wide open," said Taron Banks, lives nearby.

Taron Banks lives nearby and rushed to the scene after seeing the crash on home surveillance.

"I was looking at the camera and I see a car fly past, real fast and then I heard a crash like boom," said Banks.

The cop car, which has the right of way, was headed toward the intersection of Muskego and Rogers, when it was rammed. Neighbors rushed to help.

"We walked down there and made sure the cops were OK and they were choking and everything from the smoke from the airbags," Banks said.

Thankfully, everyone in both cars survived but people who live nearby, like Renaldo Franklin, say it was a close call that happens far too often.

"It's chaotic. A lot of people go through the stop sign," Franklin said. "It's so reckless at this intersection. It's really dangerous."

Officials say the crash could have been prevented in several ways. In addition to blowing through a stop sign, turns out the driver of the striking vehicle was believed to be under the influence.

"He shouldn't have been doing that," Banks said.

A 31-year-old suspect was taken into custody under suspicion of operating under the influence, causing injury.