GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The suspect in a Green Bay fatal hit-and-run was in court Thursday afternoon.
A breathalyzer test showed the suspect, 23-year-old Trevor Scheel, had a blood alcohol level of nearly three times the legal limit. He is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.
Police responded to the crash at West Mason and 16th Avenue Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say 73-year-old Roselita Helms of Green Bay died in that crash. A witness described seeing a car hit Helms who was crossing street.
According to police, during the field sobriety test Scheel said “you got me I did it” and later “I killed someone.”
It’s not unusual for people to cross W. Mason Street, in the area where Tuesday’s fatal hit-and-run happened. And while authorities say alcohol was a factor in the crash, it raises the question if more can be done to protect pedestrians.
Mason Street is considered a main thoroughfare connecting Green Bay’s east and west side. The city’s Public Works Director says more than 25,000 vehicles travel that roadway on a daily basis.
According to Public Works Director, Steve Grenier, “It’s primary function is more of a pipeline to get traffic from a point to another, it does accommodate the destination traffic for the businesses along that, but it is intended as a thoroughfare more than anything.”
While intended for vehicle traffic, it’s also pedestrian friendly. There are sidewalks on both sides of the street. Students cross West Mason to get to and from school.
And according to Ben Smits, owner of Badger Liquor, who has a clear view of the street from his business, people often walk it and cross it — for exercise and pleasure or to visit the businesses along the way. Smits says, “You do see people cross. You’ll see people from LaForce hardware going across, doing their exercises, going on your little lunch break.”
There are designated crosswalks at W. Mason and Oneida Street as well as W. Mason and 12th Avenue because traffic lights control those intersections. But, the half mile in between those two intersections doesn’t have any designated crosswalks so people cross at their own risk.
According to the city it’s not unusual for theses mid-block, T-intersections to be without crosswalks, but they understand the dangers. Grenier adds, “Mid-block crossings are always problematic for pedestrians.”
The city worked with HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, as well as Bellin Health officials to study the mid-block crossing by the hospitals, deciding to install signals for safety.
But the city hasn’t received a request or seen a need to install similar crossings on W. Mason Street.
Green Bay Police just encouraging drivers and pedestrians to be on the lookout for one another. Capt. Clint Beguhn adding, “As a pedestrian, the car is going to win. So it was behoove you to be aware of where’s a good place to cross, where’s there a break in traffic, can I get across safely. Because, at the end of the day, whether you’re right or the car is wrong you’re the one that is going to be bearing the brunt of the injuries.”
