Prosecutors say a Wisconsin man failed to report a single-vehicle crash in Antioch that was caused by him driving recklessly, resulting in his girlfriend being injured.
David A. Schroeder, 38, of Silver Lake, Wisconsin, was charged with failure to report an accident, failure to give aid after an accident with injury and aggravated reckless driving causing bodily harm.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emma Smoler said officers responded to a third-party call of a single-vehicle crash on January 25 in Antioch.
Officers found a car with extensive damage and airbags deployed. No one was in or around the vehicle.
A tow truck driver told officers that Schroeder had called for the tow truck and admitted to crashing into a pole and fire hydrant, Smoler said.
An anonymous person reported to police three days later that there was an occupant of the vehicle who suffered injuries in the crash.
The victim, Schroeder’s girlfriend, was being treated for a broken back.
Smoler said the victim told officers that she and Schroeder were traveling in his car when she asked him to slow down as they approached railroad tracks.
Schroeder said he wanted to “get on it” and accelerated the vehicle, Smoler said.
Schroeder lost control of the vehicle and crashed, leading to the victim briefly losing consciousness.
The victim woke up and had difficulty walking. Schroeder never called the police or paramedics, Smoler said.
A further investigation led to search warrants on the vehicle’s black box and Schroeder’s cell phone.
A judge signed an arrest warrant carrying a $100,000 bond in late April.
Schroeder was processed on the warrant and released from the Antioch Police Department after posting 10% of the bond.
Schroeder appeared at an initial court hearing on Wednesday where a judge set his bond conditions.
A status of preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 16.