Ryan Peterson, 39, has been charged over a fatal hit-and-run on Sunday as he was driving home from a relative’s house where he admits he had been drinking
A man has been charged over a fatal hit-and-run after he was handed over to police by his wife.
Ryan Peterson, 39, from Salem, Wisconsin, has been charged with killing 29-year-old Jackie Hutcheson on September 17 while driving home from a relative’s house.
Peterson initially told wife Trisha that he thought he struck a deer, but she alerted authorities the next day after finding out someone had been killed along his route.
After being handed over to deputies, Peterson admitted he had been drinking before the accident but denied being drunk, according to Kenosha News.
Cops were unable to take a blood sample from Peterson because too much time had elapsed between the accident and him being taken into custody, Fox 6 reports.
As a result he will not face DUI charges, and is instead charged with hit-and-run resulting in death and homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.
After his arrest Peterson told police that he had spent the day at a relative’s house where he had three vodka drinks and two beers, court documents say.
He then watched part of a Green Bay Packers game before deciding to drive home.
Along the way, on a poorly lit section of road, Peterson said he lost focus on the road while trying to plug his phone into its charger when he hit something.
Jackie Hutcheson, 29, was cycling home from his sister’s house when he was struck and killed. Peterson said he thought he had hit a deer, but did not stop to check
He claims to have checked in his rear-view mirror, but said he was unable to see anything and carried on driving.
The impact was enough to shatter his side-mirror and leave vehicle parts in the road, and after he arrived home he told his wife the damage was from hitting a deer.
In fact, Peterson had struck Hutcheson, known to friends as JJ, who had been cycling home from his sister’s house at the time.
Investigators said he had been riding along a gravel track around five feet from the road, which has a clearly marked fog line.
Wheel marks at the scene suggest Peterson made no attempt to slow down or take evasive action before or after the crash.
Hutcheson’s body was found by another driver who came upon the scene, and later by his mother who began walking his route home after he failed to return.
Peterson has been remanded in custody on a $15,000 bond, with Court Commissioner David Berman saying he likely faces a lengthy stint in jail if convicted.