WAUKESHA, WI – A late-night police chase in Wisconsin ended in tragedy when a father, fleeing a traffic stop, crashed his vehicle, resulting in the death of his two 10-year-old sons. The father and two other children are currently in critical condition, according to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department.
The incident began around 11:49 p.m. when a sheriff’s deputy pulled over the vehicle for speeding and missing license plates. The driver initially complied but then abruptly sped off, leading to a pursuit that ended in a crash approximately 11 miles from the initial stop.
Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson described the incident as a “horrific traffic crash,” extending his department’s condolences to the families of the deceased children. He confirmed that the vehicle crashed without any involvement from law enforcement vehicles and that the driver was fleeing at such a high speed that deputies lost visual contact during the chase.
In addition to the two deceased children, the car carried four other occupants: the driver and his girlfriend, both aged 29, a 6-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old girl. All four sustained injuries in the crash, with the driver and the two other children currently in critical condition.
The Wisconsin State Patrol will lead the investigation into the crash. Sheriff Severson assured that thus far, no evidence suggests any misconduct or policy violation on the part of the deputies involved in the pursuit.
The driver, who had an outstanding warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm, initiated the chase in Pewaukee, a city near Milwaukee, with the fatal crash occurring in Delafield, approximately 11 miles to the west. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will review the incident to ensure transparency and evaluate policy and procedural adherence.