by Muskego, Wisconsin — A tragic crash in suburban Milwaukee has left a 77-year-old woman dead after her son allegedly fled the scene, leaving her trapped inside the car. Police say 47-year-old Casey Yiannackopoulos was driving drunk when he lost control of his vehicle, crashed into a ditch, and then abandoned his injured mother to die.
The Fatal Crash
Authorities were called to the S7100 block of Hillendale Drive around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday following reports of a single-vehicle accident. When first responders arrived, they found the car wrecked in a ditch with an elderly woman in the passenger seat — but no driver in sight.
Emergency crews had to break through the car’s windows to reach the woman, who was unconscious but still breathing. She was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead about an hour later. Her name has not yet been released by officials.
Witness Accounts and Evidence
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, several witnesses saw Yiannackopoulos fleeing the scene shortly after the crash. They described him as appearing intoxicated, noting that he was unsteady on his feet and smelled strongly of alcohol.
Yiannackopoulos allegedly told bystanders he was going to “get help,” but he never returned. Instead, investigators say he hid inside his mother’s home, located just down the street from where the accident happened.
Home surveillance footage captured the crash, reportedly showing Yiannackopoulos speeding at 50 mph in a 30 mph zone before veering off the road and crashing into a ditch.
The Arrest and Confrontation
When police arrived at the mother’s residence, they discovered a ladder leading to a crawl space with the door slightly open. Officers called out for Yiannackopoulos to come down, but he allegedly shouted and cursed at them instead.
At around 10:45 p.m., officers deployed a drone to look inside the crawl space, where they found him hiding under blankets and a plastic bin lid. He resisted arrest and had to be physically removed from the area.
Once in custody, officers observed that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and his speech was slurred. He reportedly told police that “it was an accident” and that he would have been “way more cooperative” if he had known his mother was dead.
Authorities drew his blood for testing, and toxicology results are still pending.
Charges and Court Reaction
Yiannackopoulos has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide, hit-and-run involving death, and two counts of resisting or obstructing an officer.
During his initial court appearance, Court Commissioner Daniel Rieck expressed shock and disgust at the allegations.
“As I read through your criminal complaint, sir, quite frankly, the word that came to mind over and over was depraved,” Rieck said, according to WISN. “This went from driving while drunk, having what one would presume is a very unfortunate, traumatic accident, losing your mother, but then quite literally leaving her to die. Why? Because you didn’t want to get in trouble.”
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Yiannackopoulos is currently being held in the Waukesha County Jail on a $750,000 bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, where he is expected to face formal arraignment.
Community Shock
Residents of Muskego have been left stunned by the incident. The quiet Milwaukee suburb rarely sees violent crimes, and many are struggling to understand how a son could leave his own mother in such a dire situation.
As investigators await toxicology reports, police say this case serves as a grim reminder of the deadly consequences of impaired driving — and the devastating toll it can take on families.
Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking case? Should penalties for drunk driving be even harsher when it leads to death? Share your opinions in the comments on race-day-live.com.
