Milwaukee Pedestrian Killed in Astor and Ogden Crash; Driver Charged With Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — A 59-year-old Pewaukee man has been charged with two felony counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle after a July crash in Milwaukee that killed a pedestrian at the intersection of Astor and Ogden Avenues, prosecutors announced this week.
Court records show Roland Kuenn appeared in court on Wednesday and was released on a $7,500 cash bond. Prosecutors say the crash left 62-year-old Gregory Skaar with fatal injuries.
Fatal Crash at Busy East Side Intersection
Police were called to the scene around 6:40 p.m. on July 9 after reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Responding officers found Skaar unresponsive on the ground with severe head trauma. He was taken to a hospital, where he died hours later from blunt force injuries, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Video evidence reviewed by investigators shows Kuenn’s Toyota traveling westbound on Ogden Avenue, slowing slightly but then failing to stop at a stop sign before accelerating and striking Skaar as he crossed the street on the east side of the intersection.
Prosecutors said the footage “affirmatively shows the defendant did not stop and accelerated just prior to hitting the victim.”
Driver Admitted to Drinking Before Crash
Court documents indicate Kuenn remained at the scene and cooperated with police. He allegedly told investigators that he had been drinking at several bars along Brady Street before the collision and claimed he “stopped at the stop sign” but did not see Skaar in time.
An officer from the Milwaukee Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit noted the smell of alcohol on Kuenn’s breath but reported no obvious signs of impairment during field sobriety tests. Kuenn voluntarily consented to a blood draw, which was taken about two hours and 23 minutes after the crash.
The Wisconsin State Crime Lab determined his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at that time was 0.079. After calculating backward, analysts estimated his BAC at the time of the collision to have been between 0.102 and 0.138 — above the legal limit.
Prior OWI and Charges Filed
According to court filings, investigators also found that Kuenn had previously been convicted of operating while intoxicated (OWI) in Waukesha County in 1998.
He now faces two felony counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, both carrying potential prison sentences if convicted. Prosecutors say Kuenn’s decision to drive after consuming alcohol directly led to Skaar’s death.
“The defendant’s actions were reckless and resulted in the loss of a life,” the complaint stated.
Community Response and Next Court Date
The fatal crash has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of drunk driving laws in Milwaukee, where pedestrian fatalities have risen in recent years.
Kuenn’s next court appearance is scheduled later this month. He remains free on bond pending trial.
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