An 81-year-old Wisconsin woman is facing charges after police say she struck a pedestrian with her car and drove away, later telling officers she “thought she hit something.”
Janet Wolfgram has been charged with hit-and-run involving injury following a crash that happened on February 8 in Waukesha, according to a criminal complaint obtained by local media.
Authorities say Wolfgram was driving a red Chevrolet Cruze when she turned left at an intersection and allegedly hit a pedestrian who was crossing the street.
The impact was so severe that the man was thrown over the hood of the vehicle before landing in the roadway.
Despite the violent collision, police say the driver continued on without stopping.
The victim survived but suffered injuries in the crash. Witnesses told police the man had the walk signal when he was struck.
One witness followed Wolfgram’s vehicle after the crash and tracked it to a nearby Pick ’N Save grocery store parking lot. At the same time, another bystander called police while the injured man lay in the street holding his leg.
Officers arrived at the grocery store parking lot just as Wolfgram was getting out of her car.
Police asked her if she realized she had been involved in an accident.
According to investigators, Wolfgram told them she believed she might have hit something but wasn’t sure what.
When officers informed her that she had actually struck a person, police say she became visibly upset.
Surveillance cameras reportedly captured the moment of the crash, showing the car driving through the intersection and hitting the pedestrian before continuing on.
Investigators said the man was thrown approximately 15 to 20 feet from where he had been standing.
A gas station employee who knew the victim later told reporters the man was seen walking with assistance after the incident.
Wolfgram was taken into custody by Waukesha Police Department officers and transported to a police substation. She was later booked into jail and released with citations.
Prosecutors officially filed the felony hit-and-run charge this week.
Wolfgram is expected to appear in court on March 31 as the case moves forward.
There comes a time when family needs to realize a parent can no longer drive. My dad still drove to the post office in our small town (less than 1,000 population). When we moved to a bigger city (of about 100,000 people), we gently told him he could no longer drive. His reflexes were not good. He understood and gave us his keys and I sent his car to Dallas with my sister’s husband to drive. My dad was 80. We took him everywhere we went and where he wanted to go. I took off work to take him to his doctors and drove him everywhere. He was just fine and totally happy, other than mourning my mother. A lot of times children don’t want to “take away their independence”, but the risk of them killing somebody gets greater every year. It’s for everyone’s own good!
Very sad she us allowed to drive