CALEDONIA, WI — A report of a reckless driver in Caledonia who caused a hit-and-run that left one person injured eventually ended with a two-car crash and a felony charge.
Jordan Terning, 39, Racine, is charged with a felony count of hit-and-run causing injury, which could lead to nine months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Terning is free from custody on a $1,000 cash bond and is due back in Racine County Circuit Court on June 13, for an 8:30 a.m. preliminary hearing.
Hit-and-run occurred on Sunday afternoon
According to the criminal complaint:
Caledonia Police began receiving calls June 2 at 1:49 p.m. for a reckless driver who was “swerving all over, blowing stop signs, going over the center line and then way into the ditch” as it traveled eastbound on 7 Mile Road.
Callers indicated the vehicle was traveling at 70 MPH on village streets, and about 30 minutes after the initial call, were informed it failed to stop for a stop sign at 3 Mile Road and Main Street.
Four minutes later, police were flagged down at 3 Mile Road and LaSalle Street by a woman, who stated she was rear-ended by a blue Kia that continued westbound.
The woman stated she had suffered “whiplash-style” pain and would be seeking medical treatment.
She stated she was westbound on 3 Mile Road, east of LaSalle Street, and stopped for a four-way stop sign.
As she waited for a pedestrian to cross, her vehicle was struck from behind. She later was treated for neck muscle and upper back strains.
After the collision, the woman stated she immediately pulled over to the right, and the defendant passed her in the left lane, “flipped her off,” and continued westbound.
As the officer was taking that report, dispatch advised that a blue Kia had just caused a crash in the 1400 block of Main Street. The caller advised the Kia was southbound in a northbound-only block and sideswiped a parked car.
Another officer located Terning’s vehicle, and as the defendant passed him headed in the opposite direction, noted the defendant was “bobbing his head and had his eyes closed at one point.” Terning then slammed on his brakes and just avoided crashing into a vehicle, the complaint states.
The officer stopped Terning and noted the defendant had a very difficult time removing his license from his wallet, had a hard time taking off his seat belt and “appeared to be struggling with fine motor skills.”
Terning was arrested on suspicion of his first drunken driving offense and hit-and-run causing injury. No information about his blood alcohol content was included in the criminal complaint.
