Man Panics After Crashing His Truck, But For A Good Reason

A 52-year-old Caledonia man is accused of crashing a truck into a tree in Town of Yorkville, then leaving the scene and lying about driving to police officers.

Kenneth R. Frederick was charged in Racine County Circuit Court Thursday with one count of obstructing an officer. If convicted, he faces up to nine months in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Monday, Racine County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in the 2200 block of South Britton Road after one of the residents of the home went outside and found a pickup truck smashed into a nearby tree.

The resident told police they didn’t see or hear the accident. Police scoured the area and hospitals, but didn’t find a driver. However, they noticed the inside of the truck smelled of alcohol and there was an empty Miller High Life can under the brake pedal.

The truck was registered to a masonry company and officials there said Frederick was the person who normally drives the truck. Officers went to his home and Frederick said he wasn’t driving, but suspected another man had.

The next day officers met the other man at the Union Grove municipal building, where he denied driving the truck and said Frederick was the person who normally drove the truck.   

Frederick met with officers again Wednesday and finally admitted to driving the truck. He said he panicked and left after the incident because he’s on supervised parole for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and he knew the truck smelled of alcohol.

He’s currently being held in Racine County Jail on a $1,000 signature bond while awaiting trial.