A Wisconsin man is facing charges after authorities say he struck and killed a pedestrian on Highway 8 in Polk County and then left the scene.
James Harvey, 66, of Webster, was arrested after the October 3 crash that killed 65-year-old Roger Peterson of Luck. Investigators say Peterson was crossing U.S. Highway 8 near Highway 35 when he was struck by a westbound 2015 Dodge Journey. The SUV left the area after the collision.
The crash was reported at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday. When emergency crews arrived, Peterson was found dead at the scene. Authorities later traced a vehicle believed to be involved to a residence in Burnett County, where Harvey was taken into custody.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators found significant damage to the front driver’s side of the Dodge. The windshield was shattered, and police said hair believed to belong to the victim was found embedded in the glass.
The vehicle was reportedly parked near a partially dug area on the property. Investigators also believed there had been an effort to conceal the SUV and potentially hide evidence.
Investigators said their work included reviewing surveillance information and vehicle evidence from the crash scene. Those leads helped direct authorities to the Dodge and eventually to Harvey’s home.
The account provided by Harvey’s wife added another significant detail to the investigation.
She told police that Harvey was driving when she saw what appeared to be a person wearing dark clothing and heard a loud impact. She questioned whether they had hit someone. According to the complaint, Harvey pulled over and then told her to take the driver’s seat.
The couple then continued toward home using back roads, investigators said. At some point, they switched seats again.
Harvey’s wife also told police that her husband did not have a valid driver’s license.
Authorities later found the couple at their home. Police said Harvey appeared wet and disheveled and believed he may have been attempting to interfere with evidence connected to the crash. He reportedly declined to speak with investigators and asked several times whether he needed an attorney.
After obtaining a search warrant, investigators examined the Dodge more closely and documented the damage and other evidence inside the vehicle.
The investigation also revealed what happened after the couple returned home. According to the complaint, they ate dinner while a roast was cooking in a slow cooker. Their daughter later contacted them after receiving a call from police about her vehicle, which had been used in the crash.
Harvey’s wife was questioned by investigators but was not charged in connection with the incident. Harvey remained in custody at the Polk County Jail as of the latest available reporting.
Harvey faces a charge of hit-and-run involving death as well as a charge related to knowingly operating a vehicle without a valid license and causing death. The hit-and-run charge alone carries a potential prison sentence of up to 25 years if he is convicted.
The case remains under investigation by Wisconsin authorities. Investigators have also asked anyone who witnessed the crash or has photographs or other evidence from the area to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
