Search fatalities

Caitlyn Curtis

Age : 17

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 07/28/2024

Location : National Avenue near Sunnyslope Drive

City : New Berlin

County : Waukesha

State : Wisconsin

Agency : Muskego Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver and 2 passengers killed by police chase crash over "marijuana smell in vehicle"

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/29/2024, Muskego Police Department officers observed a Toyota Corolla parked near Idle Isle Park and reported seeing behavior they considered suspicious. According to body-camera footage released later, an officer stated he believed the occupants were smoking marijuana. When officers attempted a traffic stop a short distance away, the vehicle accelerated and continued driving while police pursued. During the pursuit, officers stated they became increasingly concerned about the vehicle's reckless driving rather than the suspected marijuana use.
The pursuit lasted less than two miles before the Corolla lost control while attempting to negotiate a turn at National Avenue in New Berlin. The vehicle rolled violently. Driver Giana Ochs, 18, died from her injuries, and passenger Paige Pope, 17, was pronounced dead shortly after the crash. Caitlyn Curtis, 17, sustained critical injuries and later died at the hospital. A fourth occupant, a 16-year-old girl from Milwaukee, survived with critical injuries.
The Wisconsin State Patrol investigated the crash. As of the latest publicly available information, no officers have been criminally charged, no names of the pursuing officers have been publicly released, and no public finding has been issued concluding that the pursuit violated department policy. In December 2025, Muskego Police released body-camera and squad video showing the pursuit and radio traffic in which an officer explained that the initial reason for attempting the stop was suspected marijuana use, while another officer stated the primary concern became the vehicle's reckless driving after it fled.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wisn.com/article/two-young-women-killed-in-muskego-police-pursuit/61730884
https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/third-female-dies-in-july-crash-in-new-berlin/article_9d52a02d-bb8a-5342-a0cd-fc7a6cb9f98e.html