Local
Madison police accuse two teens of racing before road worker’s fatal crash
A 17-year-old faces homicide and hit-and-run charges after a road worker was killed on Pflaum Road. A second teen was summoned on a felony reckless-endangerment charge as police investigate alleged racing.
Two 17-year-old drivers face charges in connection with a Sept. 24 crash that killed road worker Peter Crook on Madison’s east side, police said Thursday.
One teen was arrested Wednesday night while driving a blue Ford Explorer. Madison police said he faces charges of second-degree reckless homicide and hit-and-run involving death. His first court appearance is scheduled for November.
Crook, 65, was struck and killed near Sennett Middle School and LaFollette High School, in a school zone on Pflaum Road with a 25 mph speed limit. Witnesses estimated the Explorer was traveling 50 to 60 mph, according to police.
Investigators cited witness accounts and video in determining that the vehicles were racing. Police said the second teen, who was driving a tan GMC Yukon, was seen traveling in the opposing lane on Pflaum Road. He was issued a summons Wednesday on a felony charge of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and is also due in court in November.
Police said video showed the vehicles traveling at about twice the speed of surrounding traffic. Investigators also identified reckless driving on Monona Drive. The two teens know each other, police said.
Both drivers came forward after the crash and were cooperating with investigators, police had previously said. The charges are allegations, and the cases will proceed through court.