WEST ALLIS, Wis. — A Greenfield man is facing criminal charges in the crash that killed a 4-year-old boy in West Allis last Wednesday.
Thomas McIntyre, 26 of Greenfield, was charged with:
* 1st Degree Reckless Homicide
* 1st Degree Reckless Injury
* 1st Degree Recklessly Endangering Safe
A criminal complaint released Tuesday states West Allis police responded to the area of 180th and National on June 15, where they found a heavily damaged car. Inside they found a 50-year-old woman, a 46-year-old woman, and the deceased 4-year-old boy.
Police also found a second damaged car driven by the defendant. Officers say the front of the vehicle had substantial damage, which is consistent with front to rear collisions at high speeds, according to police.
Surveillance video shows the victims making a U-turn during a green light. Soon after McIntyre's car can be seen approaching at a high rate of speed. Police estimate he was going 80 miles an hour in the 40 mile per hour zone. McIntyre drives through the intersection and hits the victims' car, the complaint states. He made no attempt to stop, police say.
Talking with police, the defendant estimated he was driving more than 100 miles per hour and that he had been drinking alcohol. He told officers that the crash happened because he wanted to commit suicide, according to the complaint.
The 50-year-old woman and 46-year-old woman also suffered injuries in the crash.
If found guilty on all counts, McIntyre could spent more than 90 years in prison. He is back in court for his preliminary hearing on June 29.
The 4-year-old boy has been identified as Alexis Gonzalez.
Family describes Alexis Gonzalez as the light of their lives. He was the only child of Alvino and Sandra Gonzalez.
Alvino shared photos from a family trip they just took to Lake Genva this past Sunday. They were celebrating the start of summer.
Alvino says his son loved playing in water and dinosaurs. He was recently named Student of the Month at Forest Home Avenue School.
“He was an angel,” said Arturo Rosales, a close family friend. “We are feeling very deep pain. This is terrible.”
Sandra Gonzalez is still hospitalized, but her physical injuries are not severe. It is her emotional pain everyone is worried about.
“She is not doing good,” said Rosales. “She has a broken heart. We will do anything we can to help her get through this. Her son was her life.”
Sandra’s sister is hospitalized with broken bones.
They went out to dinner and were on their way home when they were hit by another vehicle.
“When I found out the boy died, my heart just broke,” said Ryan McFarland. “I feel so bad for the family.”
McFarland was working nearby when the accident happened. He heard the crash and saw sparks in the street. He ran out to help.
“I saw the little boy in the back seat,” McFarland said. “I could not get him out of the car, so I crawled in and held his head so it would be supported. He was in a car seat, and the driver was wearing her seat belt, but when you are hit at that high of a speed, it does not matter. The force was just too much. The back of their car was totally pushed in. The woman in the front regained conscious and was trying to talk to me, I just told her not to move. That I was holding the boy.”
Both McFarland and the Gonzalez family - who will never be the same - shared this message about reckless driving.
"It’s gotten ridiculous,” McFarland said. “People need to stop. Highway 100 is dangerous. I worried something like this would happen. I never thought I would have to see it. A four-year-old is dead. It is senseless.”
“The speeding and carelessness are too much, and the driver who did this needs to be punished,” Rosales said. “We’re now living a nightmare we will never be able to get out of.”
