MILWAUKEE — Donald Crayton, 30, was charged in a hit-and-run that left a 4-year-old dead and her 27-year-old mother injured.
On April 30, at about 11:25 a.m. on the 6900 block of N. Teutonia Avenue in Milwaukee, Zekani Hymes-Wilson and her mom, Gloria Hymes, were hit by a northbound vehicle while crossing the street. Gloria Hymes told police they were going to get pizza.
The mother was injured and her daughter was killed as a result of the crash. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the 4-year-old died on the scene, despite resuscitative efforts.
Gloria Hymes identified the driver from a still photo from security footage as Donald Crayton. Gloria Hymes said she and Donald Crayton are living together and dating.
In a security video, the car is seen driving a short distance before parking. Donald Crayton and another person, later identified by Gloria Hymes as Destiny Crayton, exited the vehicle. Donald Crayton exited the driver's side and Destiny Crayton exited the passenger's side. The video then shows Donald Crayton running back into the car and driving away. The video showed Destiny Crayton remained at the scene.
Destiny Crayton identified herself as Gloria Hymes' sister at the scene and rode in the ambulance with her. She did not tell officers she was in the car that hit the two pedestrians and left the hospital before officers could interview her, according to a criminal complaint.
Destiny Crayton later told police that she is Donald Crayton's sister. She confirmed that he was driving fast when they hit Gloria Hymes and Zekani Hymes-Wilson. She said she saw them in the street and said her brother swerved to try to avoid hitting them, but she closed her eyes and did not see the collision, per the criminal complaint.
At 6:26 p.m. that night, Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) said it recovered the vehicle involved in the incident. Police said the car had been abandoned on railroad tracks near the 7500 block of N. 81st Street.
Police later observed another vehicle with two occupants on the 5800 block of N. 83rd Street that they believed to be connected to the people involved in the incident. Officers said they attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. While in pursuit, the vehicle crashed in a parking lot near the 7200 block of W. North Avenue.
Police said the pursuit lasted for over five miles and the vehicle was driving up to 90 mph.
After the crash, police said the 21-year-old driver, later identified as Adriana Merkel, in the vehicle complied with officers and was arrested. However, the passenger, later identified as Donald Crayton, fled on foot, but was still arrested by officers.
MPD said both were taken to local hospitals for medical clearance.
Merkel identified herself as Donald Crayton's girlfriend. She said she was driving the car and made the decision to flee, but also said that Donald Crayton told her to keep going and not stop while they were being chased by police, per the criminal complaint.
Donald Crayton was taken into custody and, according to court documents, has been charged with the following:
- 1 felony count of hit and run involving death
- 1 felony count of knowing operating [a vehicle] while suspended, causing death
- 1 felony count of hit and run involving great bodily harm
- 1 felony count of knowing operating [a vehicle] while suspended, causing great bodily harm
- 1 misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an author
- 1 felony count of solicitation of vehicle operator flee/elude officer
Donald Crayton pleaded not guilty. A cash bond was set at $500,000.
Donald Crayton is under a no-contact order for Destiny Crayton, Adriana Merkel and Gloria Hymes and her family.
In a 2018 case, Donald Crayton plead guilty to knowingly operating a motor vehicle while suspended, causing death. He was released on probation in 2020.
A preliminary hearing for Donald Crayton was scheduled for May 14 at 8:30 a.m.
Merkel was also taken into custody and, according to court documents, has been charged with the following in connection to the vehicle pursuit:
- 1 felony count of vehicle operator flee/elude officer
- 1 felony count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety
Merkel is under a no-contact order for Destiny Crayton, Donald Crayton and Gloria Hymes and her family. A cash bond was set at $50,000.
A preliminary hearing for Merkel was scheduled for May 14 at 8:30 a.m.
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