Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Hit-and-Run Victim Remains in Critical Condition

Bail set at $75,000 for 54-year-old Port Man accused of driving truck that struck and critically injured 81-year-old Port woman.

Editor's note: This article was updated at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday to include information about the victim, the defendant's bail and witnesses.

A 54-year-old Port Washington man charged with two felonies in connection with a hit-and-run crash that critically injured remains in custody after bail was set at $75,000 in court on Tuesday.

Kevin P. Brown, 556 W. Chestnut St., was charged in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle and hit and run causing bodily harm.

Find out what's happening in Port Washington-Saukvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kopacz sustained head, leg and arm injuries and remains in critical condition at Froedtert Memorial Hospital in Wauwatosa as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to hospital officials.

If convicted, Brown could face up to 27-1/2 years in prison and/or a $75,000 fine.

Find out what's happening in Port Washington-Saukvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the criminal complaint, Brown said he had about three mixed drinks between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Sunday, going to bed at about 12:30 a.m. He woke up at 4:30 a.m., ate breakfast and left for his drive to work in Sheboygan.

Brown said he took his eyes off the road to search for his electronic cigarette, and that is when he swerved off the road onto the gravel and struck Kopacz, who was walking on County Highway KK (Moore Road) near North Spring Street and the railroad tracks in the Town of Port Washington. Realizing he had hit a person, he pulled his vehicle over β€” but then left the scene in a panic.

Two witnesses have since come forward to report having seen Brown driving in Port Washington that morning, according to Sherrif's Department Captain Dave Guss. The first followed Brown from his Chestnut Street address until turning off just before Moore Road to his place of employment. The second was a student who passed Brown on Moore Road on his way to school, likely just seconds before the crash.

Both witnesses say that Brown's driving seemed incoherent; the student who passed Brown had to swerve to the right to avoid Brown's car as it crossed the centerline, Guss said.

At 7 a.m., just minutes later, someone driving past saw Kopacz and called 911. Deputies arrived to find Kopacz laying in the ditch but partially on the railroad tracks, with obvious injuries to her right leg and left arm. She was also bleeding.

Kopacz was coherent and able to explain to deputies that she had been out for a walk before being struck and landing in the position she was found in. She was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Ozaukee Hospital and then transferred to Froedtert Memorial Hospital in Wauwautosa by Flight for Life.

At 12:22 p.m., Michael Brown, the driver's son, called the Sherrif's Department to let them know his father had admitted to hitting a person with his vehicle that morning, and that he had urged his father to call the police.

At 1:01 p.m., Kevin Brown called police and admitted to the crime. Law enforcement visited his place of employment in Sheboygan at 1:50 p.m. Monday to make an arrest and detected a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. A preliminary breath test showed a 0.17 blood alcohol content. A blood test was also taken and sent to the State Laboratory of Hygiene for testing.

Brown now remains in custody and is set to appear at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 27 for a preliminary hearing in Ozaukee County Court.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Port Washington-Saukville