A Mineral Point man was killed early Tuesday when his motorcyle was hit by a semi near Exit 40 on STH 23.
Dead following the accident is Bartholomew L. Chabotte, 60, who was driving a 1992 Harley.
The semi, driven by Ahmed Mustefa Deneto, 40, Iowa City, IA allegedly fled the scene.
At approximately 6:08 a.m. Tuesday, the Iowa County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a crash involving a motorcycle and a semi-truck at the intersection of State Highway 23 and the northbound US Highway 151 Exit 40 ramp in the Town of Mineral Point.
The initial investigation indicates that a semi-truck was traveling northbound on USH 151 and exited at Exit 40. The semi-truck continued through the intersection with State Highway 23, striking a southbound motorcycle that had the right-of-way and was not controlled by a stop sign.
Following the collision, the semi-truck continued northbound, leaving the scene.
Through investigative efforts, deputies were able to obtain video footage from another semi-truck parked along the roadway. The footage provided investigators with a description of the involved semi-truck.
At approximately 11:45 a.m., during the course of the investigation, a Detective Sergeant observed a semi-truck matching the description obtained during the investigation traveling southbound on USH 151. The semi-truck was subsequently stopped near Ridgeway, where deputies continued their investigation.
The semi-truck was identified as a 2022 white Freightliner, operated by Deneto.
Emergency personnel immediately began lifesaving measures at the scene. Chabotte was transported to Upland Hills Health, where he was pronounced deceased.
Deneto was taken into custody in connection with the crash and booked into the Iowa County Jail on a felony charge of Hit and Run Involving Death, contrary to Wisconsin Statute § 346.67(1). The case remains under investigation and is subject to review by the Iowa County District Attorney’s Office.
The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Mineral Point Police Department, Mineral Point Fire Department, Mineral Point EMS, UW Med Flight, Dodgeville Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Ridgeway Fire Department, Iowa County Highway Shop, Iowa County District Attorney’s Office, Al’s Towing, Randy’s Towing, and Iowa County Coroner Wendell Hamlin.
The crash remains under investigation.