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17-year-old faces felony charges after Greenfield chase reaches 80 mph
A Milwaukee teenager accused of fleeing a Greenfield traffic stop in his mother’s car is facing two felony charges after police say he ran stop signs and crashed into a front yard. He now says he regrets putting others at risk and hopes other young drivers learn from his mistake.
GREENFIELD, Wis. — A 17-year-old Milwaukee driver is facing felony charges after police say he fled a Greenfield traffic stop, drove as fast as 80 mph in a 30-mph zone and crashed into a front yard.
Leonardo Blancas was arrested Sept. 6 after officers attempted to stop him on suspicion of street racing, according to prosecutors. Police said Blancas continued driving instead of pulling over while behind the wheel of his mother’s car.
Dashcam video shows the vehicle running stop signs, nearly striking another car and leaving the roadway before crashing into a front yard. Officers arrested Blancas after the crash.
Blancas faces two felony counts, including second-degree recklessly endangering safety. He spent about a week in the county jail.
In an interview, Blancas said he was not thinking clearly when he decided to flee.
“I just didn’t want to stop. I thought I could get away,” he said.
Blancas said he regrets endangering other people and hopes the court will give him another chance. He plans to continue studying at Milwaukee Area Technical College while pursuing a career as a firefighter.
The case highlights how quickly street racing and an attempt to evade police can put drivers, pedestrians and people in nearby homes at risk. Blancas said he hopes other teenagers think twice before making a similar decision.