A South Milwaukee man seeking revenge caused a car crash in Caledonia the weekend after Christmas, according to police.
Christopher H. Hilpert, 41, is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety for the Dec. 27 incident. If convicted, he could spend up to five years in prison, plus time on supervised release.
According to the criminal complaint, Hilpert and his son pursued someone south from South Milwaukee into Caledonia, after the driver of that vehicle – a blue pickup truck – had stolen money from his son. Hilpert said his son rear-ended the pickup truck when it came to an abrupt stop on Highway 32 near Ayra’s, and that Hilpert did a “pit maneuver,” striking the truck in the rear passenger side making it spin around.
A Caledonia police officer saw two vehicles speeding south on Highway 32 from 5 Mile Road, going about 70 mph in a 35 mph zone. They were driving on the wrong side of the road, and and made sudden turns onto 4 Mile Road.
Hilpert was one driver; the other was the man whose truck had been struck.
The driver of the truck said he had been with Hilpert’s son earlier in the day and received a call from the son about $30 that was found in a couch. He returned to the home to get the money, but found Hilpert and his son waiting for him. He told police the Hilperts began chasing him, tailgating and driving erratically. He said he tried to lose the vehicles, but that they crashed into him, and then Hilpert kept following him south on Highway 32.
Hilpert was to make his initial appearance on Tuesday but did not show. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.