TROY — A 65-year-old We Energies surveyor was struck by a car and killed while on the job on Highway 20 in Walworth County Thursday morning.
The suspected driver, 50-year-old Raschad Johnson of Norman, Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.
According to the criminal complaint, Johnson had a cellphone and a laptop connected to a power station running in his vehicle when he hit the surveyor on Highway 20 and Townline Road just outside of East Troy.
The complaint also claims the driver directly behind Johnson noticed him weaving on Highway 20. The complaint said he was about to call and report Johnson for reckless driving moments before the surveyor, identified as a 65-year-old man from New Berlin, was killed.
The surveyor and the We Energies crew were all wearing high-visibility clothing and had their yellow safety lights activated at the time of the crash, according to the complaint.
Johnson returned to the scene after the crash and remained there until emergency services arrived.
Watch: Oklahoma man charged after fatal crash involving We Energies surveyor
Some neighbors told TMJ4 they have worried about the speed and behavior of drivers on the affected section of Highway 20 for a while.
"Sometimes the vehicles go past here like they're shot out of a gun," said Beverly Lackey, who lives on Highway 20 near the crash site.
Highway 20 is 55 miles an hour approaching East Troy and slows down to 45 miles an hour once drivers cross Townline Road. Lackey believes the 30 mile per hour speed limit on Highway 20 through East Troy should be extended to Townline Road.
"This 45 here is baloney, that's not what it should be," Lackey said. "Why do they have to wait until something really serious happens before they stop and think about what they're doing?"
Lackey said she has asked the Village of East Troy to slow down Highway 20 outside of her house before the crash. However, village officials told her the road decisions lie with WisDOT because Highway 20 is a state highway.
"I don't care whether it's the state or it's heaven, you'd better have a little bit of care and consideration for people," Lackey said.
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