BELOIT, Wis. (WKOW) — A 19-year-old Beloit man faces second-degree reckless homicide charges following a May 4 crash that resulted in the death of his passenger.
Steven Ray Meade II was charged after a collision involving his silver Dodge Dakota pickup truck occurred at approximately 10:47 p.m. at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Partridge Avenue. The vehicle crashed through a cemetery fence, damaging grave headstones and a tree.
Authorities identified the passenger as 22-year-old Jacob T. Veliz Munoz of Janesville. He was found unresponsive with severe injuries and transported to Beloit Memorial Hospital, then transferred to UW Hospital in Madison, where he was pronounced dead on May 6.
Witness accounts indicated Meade was speeding, traveling east at about 80 mph. Police reviewed traffic camera footage showing the truck running a red light shortly before the crash.
Initial statements from Meade claimed Munoz was driving, but witnesses contradicted this, stating they saw Meade in the driver's seat before the incident. During questioning, Meade eventually admitted to being the driver and stated that the two had switched seats before the crash.
The investigation is ongoing, with preliminary autopsy results confirming Munoz died from crash-related injuries. If convicted, Meade faces up to 25 years in prison and fines up to $100,000. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Monday.