Waukesha County fatal Christmas Eve crash; man charged
WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. - A 39-year-old man from Wales, Wis. has been charged in the Christmas Eve fatal hit-and-run of a Chicago man.
The accused is Christopher Sponholz. He was charged on Thursday, Dec. 26, with one count of hit-and-run - resulting in death.
Case details
Per a criminal complaint, the fatal hit-and-run happened in the Village of Summit at 6:41 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, when a tow truck operator was loading a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of eastbound I-94, east of Sawyer Road. As the tow operator was loading the disabled vehicle, he was struck by a blue minivan that fled the scene.
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The tow truck driver, who has now been identified as 40-year-old Hussain Farhat, of Yaffo Towing in Chicago, was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
Waukesha County fatal Christmas Eve crash; tow truck driver struck
A 40-year-old man is dead after a crash on I-94 in Waukesha County on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
A witness told officials that she saw Farhat on the ground and said Sponholz never slowed down and got off at the next exit. She estimated he was going between 80–90 miles per hour.
On Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25, Waukesha officials received a tip from somebody that spotted a car that matched the description of the minivan at a home in the Village of Wales.
Hussain Farhat (Credit: Abdallah Hekmat)
Sponholz turned himself into the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department just before noon on Wednesday.
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According to the complaint, Sponholz told a friend he originally thought he had hit a deer after he dropped his daughter off with her stepfather earlier in the evening.
In court
Sponholz was also cited for failing to notify police of a traffic accident.
Cash bond has been set at $750,000 and Sponholz is not allowed to leave the state. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 5.
Waukesha County fatal Christmas Eve crash; vigil held for tow truck driver
The community is coming together to remember a man killed in a Waukesha County crash that happened on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Waukesha County Circuit Court Commissioner Daniel Rieck said Thursday that Sponholz had a prior felony conviction in Waukesha County and an OWI offense.
If convicted of the hit-and-run - resulting in death count, Sponholz faces up to 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines, and could lose his driving privilege for five years.