Hockersmith, of Burlington, had Milwaukee ties, State Patrol said
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
While authorities identified the man killed in a Thursday morning crash on Interstate 94 near Highway 158 as Joshua Hockersmith of Burlington, officials are unsure why he walked through traffic lanes, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department.
The crash reportedly happened when a 2007 Acura SUV driven by a 30-year-old Milwaukee man heading southbound had struck Hockersmith on the passenger side at about 3 a.m., a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department press release said.
Furthermore, a Wisconsin State Patrol press release reported he was walking between traffic lanes.
“Kenosha Sheriff’s dispatch received a report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle while crossing the travelled lanes on interstate 94,” a Wisconsin State Patrol news release stated.
When authorities arrived, according to a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department news release, they found Hockersmith lying in the roadway, where he was pronounced dead.
In conflicting press releases, the Wisconsin State Patrol listed him as a 36-year-old from Milwaukee while the Sheriff’s Department stated he was a 30-year-old from Burlington.
According to State Patrol Sgt. Scott Gouin, he attributed conflicting reports due to outdated Motor Vehicle records, and the identification found on him.
“I think the license he had on him was a 36-year-old from Milwaukee,” said Gouin. “He was originally from Milwaukee but he eventually moved to the Burlington area.”
Neither the State Patrol or the Sheriff’s Department gave information about how long he had been in the Burlington area.
There were no injuries to the 30-year-old driver of the Acura or his 29-year-old female passenger.
While authorities investigated the crash, Interstate 94 between highways 142 and 158 was closed for about two hours and reopened at 5:23 a.m.
“At this time the incident remains under investigation,” a Friday Sheriff’s Department news release stated.
The crash occurred near the municipal boundaries of the City of Kenosha and Town of Paris.
The Kenosha Fire Department assisted the State Patrol and Sheriff’s Department.