‘Didn’t even stop’: hit-and-run critically injures Lyft driver
By Kendall Keys
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MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Milwaukee police are asking for the public’s help in finding the driver responsible for a hit-and-run crash downtown. It happened around 8:40 p.m. Monday near Van Buren and Knapp streets, just outside of Nova Apartments.
Police say a silver Jeep Compass hit a rideshare driver who had stepped out of their car. The driver of the SUV kept driving after the crash. Medics rushed the victim, a 26-year-old man, to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
A witness told WISN 12 News the man hit was his Lyft driver that evening. Jared Holan said he requested a ride home from the airport, arriving back in Milwaukee after traveling for Thanksgiving.
“As I was being dropped off at my apartment outside, the Lyft driver stepped out of the vehicle and tried to help me with my bag in the trunk,” Holan said. “I put my bag on the sidewalk and went to shake his hand. And as I was shaking his hand, a vehicle struck him out of nowhere.”
Police shared a surveillance image of the suspected SUV, saying it’s a silver Jeep Compass, made between 2017-2024, with significant damage to the front passenger side.
“I couldn’t even distinguish the color from how fast it happened. I would have to say at least 45 or 50 miles an hour, from what I could tell,” Holan said.
“And they just kept driving?” WISN 12 News reporter Kendall Keys asked.
“Didn’t even stop. It almost looked like they sped up,” Holan said. “The car hit my elbow, too, but God was watching over me and allowed me to be able to take care of the driver who needed it.”
Holan said he called 911 and stayed by his driver’s side.
“I just took my sweater off and tried to find the wound and stop the bleeding until the paramedics arrived,” Holan said.
Police did not have an update on the man’s condition Tuesday.
“Why do you feel it’s important to share your story? What do you want to see come out of this?” Keys asked Holan.
“Justice for whoever’s done this. Not only just the horrific nature of the act, but also the time at which it comes, where we could all use a little bit more love and sympathy and, frankly, just care for each other,” Holan said. “I can only hope that whoever did this is brought to justice.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit at (414) 935-7814.
In a statement to 12 News, a spokesperson for Lyft said, “The incident described is deeply troubling, and our hearts are with the driver. Our team is reaching out to the driver and rider to offer support, and we’re prepared to assist law enforcement with any investigation.”
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