MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee man was driving over 100 miles per hour while racing another vehicle when he crashed into another car and drove off, killing 7-year-old Londyn Quesada, according to a criminal complaint obtained Thursday.
Iman Ghalee Washington Jr., 20, is now facing numerous charges: 2nd Degree Reckless Homicide, Hit and Run-Involve Death, 2nd Degree Reckless Injury, Knowingly Operating While Suspended (Cause Death), Hit and Run-Involve Great Bodily Harm and Knowingly Operating While Suspended (Cause Great Bodily Harm) - all felonies. If convicted, Washington could face up to 86 years and six months behind bars.
Another man, 19-year-old Kevin D. Hightire of Milwaukee, was also charged, with Harboring/Aiding a Felon, a felony that could send him to prison for up to 10 years if convicted. Washington has an arrest warrant issued for him, while Hightire has been booked and was issued $3,000 cash bond.
As TMJ4 News reported, 7-year-old Londyn was riding with her mother near 76th and Calumet in Milwaukee on Oct. 28, when another car crashed into them, and then drove off. Londyn's mother, Iesha survived the crash but was still badly injured. Londyn was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The criminal complaint reveals new details about the deadly hit-and-run in which the main suspect, Washington, is still on the run from law enforcement.
The complaint states that on Oct. 28, Milwaukee police officers were called to the scene of the crash, where they found first responders giving aid to a small child lying in the intersection. The child, identified as Londyn Quesada, was soon pronounced deceased.
Officers also found a 2006 Pontiac G6 near the intersection. Inside, they discovered a Wisconsin ID belonging to Iman G. Washington, the complaint states.
An investigation later found that the car Londyn and her mother were in was severely damaged, and that it had struck a traffic signal after the suspect crashed into their car. Prosecutors say the suspect's vehicle was also severely damaged. The airbags in both cars had deployed.
Based on the position of the vehicles, police believe Washington's vehicle was traveling south on North 76th Street and the victims' Toyota was traveling north on North 76th Street, turning left on West Calumet Road, when the crash occurred.
Data from the suspect's vehicle showed to detectives that Washington was driving 103 miles per hour in the moment before crashing into the victims' vehicle, the complaint states. The speed limit in that area is 40 miles per hour.
A witness told investigators that they believe the suspect was racing another vehicle. The other vehicle is described as a Chevrolet HHR.
The witness continued that when Washington's vehicle allegedly hit the victims' vehicle, a child was thrown through the window of the vehicle and landed on the roadway. The witness, who was driving behind them, had to swerve to avoid running the child over.
According to the complaint, following the crash, the driver of the suspect vehicle got out of the car and got into the vehicle he had been racing. They then drove off, the witness recounted to detectives.
A woman later contacted MPD to say that she is the owner of the Chevrolet HHR and that her son had been borrowing it. The woman continued that she had contacted her son, who told her he had loaned the car to another man, the complaint states.
Police interviewed the son, who said that on the day of the crash, he had been driving to his home in the Chevrolet HRR to pick up his boyfriend, identified as defendant Kevin Hightire.
The son told detectives that Hightire left him at his job and drove off with the Chevrolet HRR. Hightire was supposed to pick him up later that night but arrived an hour late, saying when he finally arrived that "I messed up, I messed up" and that "there was an accident, it's not my fault," according to the complaint.
Investigators then interviewed Hightire. The complaint describes that on the night of the crash, Hightire was driving the HHR when he saw Washington in the Pontiac. He pulled alongside, and Washington told him that he had the money he owed Hightire for a television set. Washington told him he just had to go to an ATM to get the money. Hightire added to investigators that Washington was in the driver's seat of the Pontiac, and another man he knew in the passenger's seat, according to the complaint.
Hightire told investigators that he followed Washington onto 76th Street. Hightire said that the speeds of both vehicles increased on the way there. He added that Washington tended to drive fast, but never above 100 miles per hour before, prosecutors write in the complaint.
Hightire said he had trouble keeping up to Washington because of the speed, and that both drivers were weaving in and out of traffic, according to the complaint.
At Dean Street, Washington slowed down a bit, allowing Hightire to pass him. Washington then increased his speed and once again overtook him, the complaint states.
According to Hightire in the complaint, there was no way he could catch Washington as he was traveling "super" fast. There was a green light at 76th and W. Calumet Road as Washington approached, and that Washington must have been driving at least 100 miles per hour when the collision occurred, according to prosecutors. At first Hightire thought Washington collided into a pole, until he arrived at the intersection and saw that Washington had crashed into another vehicle.
Hightire says he then made a U-turn to the Pontiac, noticing that the passenger in Washington's vehicle appeared unconscious and that Washington was trying to pick up items from the car, the complaint states. Hightire told investigators that Washington said he wanted to leave the passenger behind, but that Hightire insisted that the passenger come along, as he was injured, according to the complaint. Washington put the passenger in the Chevrolet HHR and they returned to their apartment.
"Thus, Defendant Hightire helped Defendant Washington flee from the homicide scene and avoid arrest," according to the complaint.
WisDOT records show Washington has never held a valid driver's license and that his current license status is suspected.
Hightire will attend his preliminary hearing in Milwaukee County Court on Nov. 13.
