MILWAUKEE — A violent, deadly crash near 76th and Hampton was all caught on surveillance video.
"It didn't sound like a crash. It was more of a thud as if someone had fallen out of bed," Junious Merriweather said. "I think what created the thud is the fact it wasn't two cars hitting. It was a car and a tree. That tree don't move. it was different."
The crash was so severe,the windshield of the car blew out and smashed into Merriweather's front door.
"I jumped back because it was like it's really coming at me," Merriweather said after looking at his surveillance video. "My wife, my grandchildren, my family sits out on the porch quite a bit. Had that been going on last night, it would have been pretty bad. It would have been pretty detrimental."
There are battle scars all over Merriweather's yard showing the years of crashes he's had to endure as a result of people speeding recklessly down 76th Street.
"This happens a lot around here," Merriweather said. "An 18-wheeler in my neighbor's yard, SUV over here, all these knots and healings in these trees are from accidents over the years."
Because of the nature and result of the crash, TODAY'S TMJ4 intentionally stopped the video before impact. However, the crash happened in Alderman Cavalier Johnson's district, and he thinks because of how violent this crash was, people need to see it in its entirety so they can realize reckless actions have serious consequences.
"Folks should see that video and internalize what happens when you drive recklessly," Johnson said. "What if somebody was standing on the porch when that windshield popped out? That person would be seriously injured or probably killed."
"My wife, my grandchildren, my family sits out on the porch quite a bit. Had that been going on last night, it would have been pretty bad. It would have been pretty detrimental." — Junious Merriweather
He said reckless driving is running rampant in his district and across the city. They can put up as many signs and speak out about reckless driving, but he says the only way to make the streets safer is by everyone taking accountability.
"Take it easy, be safer and make smarter choices when you're behind the wheel of a 2,000-pound missile that can kill you or anybody else around you," Johnson said. "Plead with them to calm down. Plead with them to take a step back and think about actions because consequences could be deadly for themselves or other people."
Johnson said he will work with Milwaukee Police on putting speed enforcement signs on the portion of 76th Street near Hampton.
