Vehicle strikes, kills We Energies employee in Walworth County; man charged
Walworth County Sheriff's Office
TOWN OF TROY, Wis. - A 65-year-old New Berlin man died after being struck by a vehicle in the Town of Troy on Thursday, April 30. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and has been criminally charged.
Pedestrian struck, killed
What we know:
The Walworth County Communications Center received a 911 call shortly before 10 a.m. on Thursday reporting an unresponsive male in the middle of Highway 20 and Townline Road in the Town of Troy. Additional 911 callers reported that a westbound vehicle on Highway 20 struck a pedestrian.
After the collision, the striking vehicle returned to the scene and remained there until emergency services arrived.
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A news release says the East Troy Fire Department, along with the Village of East Troy Police Department, arrived on scene and located an unresponsive victim in the roadway. Life-saving measures were performed, but were unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced deceased by the Walworth County Medical Examiner's Office.
A preliminary investigation was conducted. The driver of the striking vehicle was arrested for homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle. The suspect was identified as a 50-year-old man from Norman, Oklahoma.
Victim identified as We Energies employee
What we know:
We Energies confirmed that the person who was struck and killed was an employee. He was conducting survey work in Walworth County when the incident occurred.
We Energies wants to remind all drivers to please slow down around the workers.
The victim's name will be released after the family has been notified.
Driver charged
What we know:
The driver, 50-year-old Raschad Johnson, has been formally charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and 2nd-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Raschad Johnson
According to the criminal complaint, a witness who was driving behind Raschad's vehicle before the crash told police that the vehicle was weaving on the roadway. The witness followed him for about a mile and was about to call him in for reckless driving when the witness saw the vehicle strike the victim, who was standing in the roadway wearing a high-visibility vest. The witness believed the vehicle was traveling at about 50–55 mph.
Police spoke with another person who was working with the victim at the time of the crash. He was also wearing a high visibility vest and standing near the middle of the roadway, as they were both setting a GPS point using surveying equipment. He said that he saw [Raschad's] vehicle coming and had to dive out of the way so he wouldn't be struck. A We Energies utility truck with its safety lights on was also present.
Following the incident, Raschad's vehicle was searched by deputies. Inside they found both a cell phone and a laptop that were connected to power stations to keep them powered continuously. The laptop appeared to have been turned on inside the vehicle.
Court proceedings
What we know:
Raschad Johnson was in Walworth County Circuit Court on Friday, May 1, where cash bond was set at $250,000. His adjourned initial appearance is scheduled for May 6.
The Source: Information in this post was provided by the Walworth County Sheriff's Office and court records. We Energies confirmed that the victim was an employee.