A Texas man is facing serious felony charges in Wisconsin after allegedly striking and injuring a bicyclist in a hit-and-run crash, with investigators relying on an unconventional tool—Google AI—to identify his vehicle from plastic debris left at the scene. Duan K. Maiden II, 32, is accused of fleeing the intersection in Jackson, Wis., despite warnings from a passenger, leaving the victim with severe fractures.
Background
The incident occurred on Sept. 3 at the intersection of Western Avenue and Division Road in Jackson, a suburb on the northwestern edge of the Milwaukee metro area. According to a criminal complaint filed in Washington County, Maiden was driving a gray sedan eastbound and failed to stop at a stop sign. A witness reported that the vehicle struck a bicyclist and continued eastbound on Western Avenue without stopping.
The bicyclist suffered significant injuries, including a compound leg fracture and fractures to the pelvis and spine/neck. A sheriff's deputy recovered several plastic car pieces from the scene, which contained serial numbers. To identify the vehicle model, the deputy utilized Google AI, which suggested the debris likely came from a Nissan Versa.
Later that night, dispatch connected investigators with a man who claimed to be a passenger in Maiden’s car. This witness, referred to as Witness 4 in the complaint, stated that he and Maiden had been canvassing neighborhoods for the upcoming Wisconsin governor race. During a break, Maiden allegedly purchased a bottle of vodka and took a drink, followed by more than an hour of eating pizza and listening to music. The witness noted that while Maiden did not appear intoxicated initially, his driving behavior deteriorated significantly as they approached the crash site.
The Investigation
Witness 4 described a critical period where Maiden left the parked car for an hour. During this time, Maiden purchased four BuzzBallz alcoholic drinks, estimated to be about 15% ABV, and consumed all four outside the presence of the witness. As they resumed driving, Witness 4 reported that Maiden began driving in the opposite lane and failed to yield at a stop sign, speeding up instead of stopping. When the bicyclist appeared, the vehicle was traveling at an estimated 35 to 40 mph, and the front passenger area struck the victim.
Despite Witness 4’s pleas to stop and call police, Maiden allegedly responded with "naw man" and claimed the victim was okay, continuing to drive from the scene. Witness 4 eventually exited the vehicle to call 911. Law enforcement later identified Maiden while he was driving and convinced him to pull over. Field sobriety tests revealed Maiden failed half of them, and a breath test indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.268%, more than three times the legal limit in Wisconsin. During an interview, Maiden stated he felt terrible and claimed he did not recall hitting anyone or hearing his passenger's warnings.
Key Takeaways
- Duan K. Maiden II was charged with hit-and-run resulting in great bodily harm and intoxicated use of a vehicle resulting in great bodily harm.
- Investigators used Google AI to identify a Nissan Versa from serial numbers on plastic debris left at the crash scene.
- The suspect allegedly consumed four BuzzBallz and vodka before the crash, with a breath test reading of 0.268% BAC.
- A passenger in the vehicle urged Maiden to stop, but he allegedly refused and fled the scene.
- The victim suffered a compound leg fracture and fractures to the pelvis and spine/neck.
What's Next
Maiden remains in custody facing felony charges in Washington County. The case is currently in the pre-trial phase, with upcoming court dates expected to be scheduled for preliminary hearings and potential trial proceedings. Investigators have confirmed the vehicle identification via AI analysis and witness testimony, solidifying the evidence chain against the suspect. No sentencing has occurred yet, as the legal process is still in its initial stages.