A 55-year-old Wisconsin man faces potential criminal charges after he allegedly struck and killed a cancer survivor riding his bicycle in Milwaukee, fled the scene, and then called police to falsely claim his pickup truck had been stolen.
Background
Walter "Wally" Williams, 64, was riding his bicycle across Vliet Street near North 17th Street just after 5:30 p.m. Friday when he was struck by a northbound pickup truck, according to Milwaukee ABC affiliate WISN.
A bystander who called 911 and identified as a medical student performed CPR until emergency crews arrived, but Williams died at the scene. His daughter, Temeria Hubbard, described him as a devoted father who loved cycling: "He rode that bike everywhere; nothing stopped him." She added, "He went through a lot, fighting cancer and everything, and this is how he leaves me; it's so unfair."
The Investigation
Police located the suspected vehicle later that evening and arrested a 55-year-old man. In a Facebook post, the Milwaukee Police Department said surveillance video and Flock cameras helped track down a suspect in the fatal hit-and-run.
Court filings cited by WITI detail how investigators connected the dots: They obtained a description of the pickup from nearby surveillance footage, then used the city's Flock camera system to locate a vehicle matching both the description and license plate near Washington Park just minutes after the collision. About 30 minutes after the crash, a man who lived only blocks from the intersection called police to report his truck had been stolen while he was working on it outside his home — but investigators determined that timeline did not match the evidence.
Key Takeaways
- Walter Williams, 64, was killed in a hit-and-run while cycling across Vliet Street in Milwaukee.
- The driver allegedly fled and then reported his pickup truck stolen about 30 minutes later.
- Police used surveillance video and Flock cameras to identify the vehicle and arrest a 55-year-old man.
- Authorities have not yet publicly named the suspect or announced formal charges.
What's Next
The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office will review evidence and determine what charges, if any, the driver faces. A court date has not been set.