WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS) — A Wisconsin man accused of striking and killing a Chicago tow truck driver this week was in court Thursday.
Christopher Sponholz, 39, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, is charged with hit and run involving death in the collision that killed 40-year-old Hussain Farhat on Tuesday evening. Sponholz was also cited for failing to notify police of the crash.
Officials said the crash occurred just before 7 p.m. Tuesday as Farhat was loading a disabled vehicle onto a tow truck on the shoulder of Interstate 94 near Summit, Wisconsin.
According to a criminal complaint, a witness called a tow truck for her vehicle, and she sat in the cab of the tow truck while Farhat loaded the back of her vehicle, CBS 58 in Milwaukee reported. The woman then heard a loud noise and cars stopping, and when she got out to look, she saw Farhat lying motionless on the ground, CBS 58 reported.
Another witness said she saw the blue minivan that authorities say Sponholz drove past them at a high rate of speed and swerved onto the shoulder. She then saw a piece fly off the tow truck and a tow truck driver roll on the ground in a reflective celebration, CBS 58 reported.
This witness said he saw the minivan drive away and take the next exit. According to the witness, the van was traveling at an estimated 80 to 90 km/h.
Farhat died in an area hospital.
Family photo
On Wednesday, an anonymous tip related to the van led police to an address in Wales, Wisconsin. Police went to the address and found the minibus there, CBS 58 reports.
Sponholz later surrendered to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, CBS 58 reported.
As documented in a criminal complaint, a friend told police that Sponholz told him he had hit a “deer.”
A vigil for Farhat was held near the crash site Wednesday evening, with more than 50 tow trucks and 100 people attending, CBS 58 reported.
“Today it’s obviously a heavy heart, but when you hear it like this, we’re all a brotherhood. We all look out for each other,” said tow truck driver Ryan Tessman. “Even if we’re dragging companies and rivals, whatever, it doesn’t matter. You’re all in the same business: helping the motoring public, getting them home safely, getting ourselves home safely to our families.”
Farhat leaves behind a wife, who relatives say is pregnant, and children.
Bail for Sponholz was set Thursday at $750,000. He is due back in court on February 5.
A conviction for hit-and-run in Wisconsin carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years.
