Tag Archives: South Milwaukee crash

A Cudahy man has been charged in connection with a Sept. 17 crash on College Avenue near Divine Mercy School that left a passenger in his vehicle dead.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story. From it:

Derek J. Griebenow had consumed more than a half-gallon of beer in the hours before he blacked out at the wheel of his 2001 Pontiac Grand Am the evening of Sept. 17 and flipped near Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave., South Milwaukee.

Jerome V. Robertson, 54, died later from injuries suffered in the crash.

According to the criminal complaint:

Griebenow woke to find to himself in the back seat of his overturned car, unable to get out, so he lighted a cigarette and called 911.

He admitted to police he’d been drinking beer all day, and had capped his day with a shot of whiskey and a beer at Brother’s Bar, where he met Robertson. Robertson, who suffered from a cognitive disability, was asking for money for food, and Griebenow offered to buy him drinks instead until other patrons gave Griebenow a hard time and he decided to take Robertson somewhere for a meal.

He said Robertson commented that he was going too slow so he “punched it” and then blacked out.