Wisconsin Man Charged After Drunk-Driving Crash Kills Mother
Casey Yiannackopoulos, a Wisconsin resident, has been charged following a drunk-driving incident that led to the death of his 77-year-old mother. Authorities allege that on Sunday evening, Yiannackopoulos crashed his vehicle in the Milwaukee suburb of Muskego and then left his mother trapped inside while hiding in their home.
Yiannackopoulos faces charges of reckless homicide and hit-and-run. He refused to undergo field sobriety tests at the scene, and blood alcohol test results are pending, according to WISN.
Emergency responders found the elderly woman unconscious in the car. She was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Witnesses reported seeing Yiannackopoulos stumble from the crash scene, claiming he was seeking help. Instead, he returned to his home and hid in a crawl space for roughly four hours before police located him, using a police dog and a taser to remove him.
During a court hearing, Court Commissioner Daniel Rieck described Yiannackopoulos’ actions as “depraved,” emphasizing the extreme recklessness of leaving his mother to die after causing a serious accident. Rieck stated, “This went from driving while drunk, having what one would presume is a very unfortunate, traumatic accident, losing your mother, but then quite literally leaving her to die. Why? Because you didn’t want to get in trouble.”
Yiannackopoulos reportedly told police he would have been “way more cooperative” had he known his mother had died. Prosecutors requested a $250,000 bail, but Rieck set it at three times that amount. Yiannackopoulos is scheduled to return to court on Thursday.
Conclusion
This tragic case underscores the dangers of impaired driving and the devastating consequences of putting self-interest above human life. Beyond legal repercussions, it serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility individuals have to protect loved ones and the irreversible outcomes of reckless behavior.