MONONA, Wis. -- A man who police said was driving recklessly through Monona Wednesday evening crashed the vehicle he was driving, sending himself and a toddler to the hospital with serious injuries.
The Monona Police Department said an officer saw the vehicle traveling around 60 miles per hour north on Monona Drive -- roughly twice the posted speed limit -- around 5:40 p.m.
When the officer tried to stop the driver, he continued driving on the wrong side of Monona Drive before turning onto Nichols Road, where witnesses said he lost control while swerving around a stopped vehicle and crashed. Police said the vehicle hit a fire hydrant, utility pole and tree before ending up in the front yard of a home on Nichols Road.
The man and his two-year-old passenger were taken to hospitals with injuries police described as serious but non-fatal. No one outside the vehicle was hurt, Monona Police Chief Brian Chaney said.
Police said they plan to refer charges of reckless driving causing great bodily harm against the driver, who they identified as a 25-year-old man from Milton.
Chaney said the Milton man was caring for the toddler at the time of the crash, adding the two are not related.
News 3 Now is not naming the driver at this time as part of a policy not to name people accused of crimes until they have been formally charged in court. Click here to learn more about the policy.
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