MUSKEGO, WI – A Muskego man faces several felony charges after authorities say he crashed his vehicle into a ditch while intoxicated and fled the scene, leaving his 77-year-old mother fatally injured in the passenger seat.
Officers were dispatched to the S7100 block of Hillendale Drive around 7:15 p.m. Sunday following reports of a single-vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they found an unresponsive woman, later confirmed to be the mother of 47-year-old Casey Yiannackopoulos, in the front passenger seat. The driver was not present at the crash site.
First responders broke through the car’s windows to rescue the woman, who was unconscious but still breathing. She was transported to an area hospital, where she died approximately an hour later. Authorities have not released the victim’s name.
According to court documents, several bystanders reported that a man matching Yiannackopoulos’ description exited the car immediately after the crash. Witnesses told police that the driver appeared impaired, unsteady on his feet, and smelled strongly of alcohol. He allegedly claimed he was leaving to fetch help, but never returned.
Security footage obtained from a nearby home reportedly shows the vehicle traveling at least 50 mph in a zone with a posted speed limit of 30 mph before veering off the roadway and crashing. Investigators traced Yiannackopoulos to a house a short distance from the crash site. Upon entering, officers discovered a ladder leading to a crawl space, where they found Yiannackopoulos concealed under blankets and a plastic container lid.
Police say the suspect initially refused to surrender and shouted at them from his hiding place. After the use of a drone to pinpoint his location, officers forcibly removed him from the crawl space and placed him under arrest. Yiannackopoulos allegedly exhibited bloodshot, glassy eyes, and hospital staff later took a blood sample for toxicology testing.
During questioning, Yiannackopoulos reportedly admitted to the accident, adding that he might have cooperated more if he had known about his mother’s death. He was charged with first-degree reckless homicide, hit-and-run involving death, and two counts of resisting or obstructing an officer.
Yiannackopoulos made his initial court appearance this week. A legal official commented during proceedings that the circumstances outlined in the criminal complaint were particularly disturbing, given that the suspect’s actions progressed from driving while intoxicated to abandoning a loved one after a traumatic event.
Yiannackopoulos remains in custody at the Waukesha County Jail on a $750,000 bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities have not indicated when toxicology results might be available.