Police in Slinger are investigating a hit and run that caused several thousand dollars in damage to property at St. Peter Parish on Highway 175.
Police said they were dispatched to the area for a report of a single vehicle hit and run around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
According to a witness at the scene, a dark-colored pickup truck with a hitch cargo carrier careened off the road and hit a fence with a gate in the middle.
"The damage is around $3,000 to the fence and it looks like it might have to be completely replaced," said Lt. Joseph Cashin, of the Slinger Police Department.
He said it's likely the driver hit the gate at a significant speed.
"I think speed is definitely a factor in this," Cashin said. "The vehicle went off the roadway by at least 30-40 feet."
After the collision, the driver of the truck then left the scene without stopping.
Police believe the vehicle involved in the crash is a 2003-2007 Chevrolet Silverado or Chevrolet Avalanche, which is now missing a headlight and part of its chrome bumper trim.
Fr. Richard Stoffel, the parish priest, expects the cost of either repairing or replacing the fence to be significant.
"The church will be out $1,000 before (the insurance) would start paying any of the costs," Stoffel said. "So it'll be a bit of a financial headache for the church."
He hopes the church could cover the unexpected expense through parishioner donations.
But he added the parish will ask the driver responsible to help with the expense if he or she is found.
"Certainly, our forgiveness would be extended," Stoffel said. "But part of the process of forgiveness will also be to ask that person what type of restitution they might be able to make."
