College student from Elkhorn killed
SLN Staff
A Seattle man has been charged with vehicular homicide for allegedly driving drunk and causing a fiery crash that killed a 22-year-old college student on Oct. 9 on Highway 12 between Elkhorn and Whitewater.
Timothy M. Creiglow, 33, was charged Monday in Walworth County Circuit Court with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle. He also faces several traffic charges including drunken driving, failure to keep a vehicle under control, hit and run to property, open intoxicants and operating left of center.
Walworth County Medical Examiner Gina Carver confirmed the victim in the crash as Adam Bensaid of Elkhorn. Bensaid was studying business at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and was a car enthusiast who drove a classic BMW he had restored, according to his obituary.
“Adam was a true friend who would always help me and the ones I hold close in times of need,” his friend, Jared Lindenberg, posted on Facebook Oct. 10. “(He was) a colorful character who in times of struggle could put a smile on everyone’s faces in the room. …Adam was and will always be a lifetime friend to me, and it’s devastating that he has left this world all too soon.”
Bensaid is survived by his parents, Ben and Cathy, according to his obituary. A memorial service was held Oct. 17 at Haase-Lockwood and Associates Funeral Home, Elkhorn.
In an online post Oct. 14, UW-Whitewater announced Bensaid’s death to the campus community. It provided links to counseling services for students and staff and noted that flags across the campus would fly at half-staff on Oct. 15.
Bond set for suspect
Creiglow, who was injured in the crash and has been hospitalized, had not appeared in court as of Tuesday. However, cash bond was set at $150,000 on Oct. 11, according to court records.
Creiglow is accused of crossing into the opposing lane of traffic in the Jeep he was driving around 11:32 p.m. Oct. 9 and colliding head on with the BMW driven by Bensaid on Highway 12 east of Jackson Road in the Town of LaGrange.
The first Walworth County Sheriff’s deputy to arrive at the scene noted the BMW was on fire and she attempted to rescue Bensaid, but did not succeed as flames engulfed the vehicle, according to the complaint.
The deputy further noted that Creiglow, who had suffered significant injuries in the crash and was in and out of consciousness, smelled like alcohol as did his Jeep, according to the complaint.
Creiglow was transported from the crash scene by helicopter to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. Deputies obtained a search warrant to collect blood samples from Creiglow at the hospital to be analyzed for the presence of intoxicants, according to the complaint.
Sheriff’s officials reported receiving a 911 call at about 11:20 p.m. Oct. 9 regarding a reckless driver. The caller reported the reckless driver had nearly struck another car before crashing into a sign and then drove back onto the road and continued north on Highway 12.
The caller continued to follow Creiglow’s Jeep and provide information to a 911 dispatcher, including the suspect failing to stay in the appropriate lane of the road, until the crash occurred.
