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911 Call After Driver Hits Bicyclists

911 Call After Driver Hits Bicyclists

Lauren Leamanczyk
Katie DeLong
Erin Drew Kent

RACINE COUNTY - A Racine County woman is accused of hitting two bicyclists with her car, and then driving away.

TODAY’S TMJ4 has the 911 call made by a friend of the alleged drunk driver who killed Nancy Sellars.

Janell Gehrke is accused of deadly drunk driving and fleeing the scene. A friend named Tony made this call to 911 after the crash.

Caller: “We need to get a sheriff’s deputy out to Five Mile Road about a quarter mile east of uh, 45. Probably going to need an ambulance, too. I think there was a couple of bicyclists that were hit.”

The 911 dispatcher explained that there were already emergency crews there.

Dispatcher: “Did you see it happen sir? Do you have a description of the vehicle?”

Caller: “Actually, I’m here with the person that hit them.”

Dispatcher: “Oh, they’re on the scene?”

Caller: “No, they’re at their house which is about a half mile away.”

The intersection where the collision happened is only about two miles from the drivers’ home. Still, it took about 20 minutes before a friend called police.

Dispatcher: “We’ll have a squad stop by the house there on Olson Road then.”

Caller: “Oh okay. Thank you. Bye.”

Gehrke has not yet been charged. The DA is reviewing the case and could file charges next week. This is her first ticket for OWI.

Victim Nancy Sellars was a popular endurance athlete. She competed in triathlons.

This weekend, at Pewaukee Lake, her many friends in the sport will honor her with a moment of silence. They’ll also affix stickers with her initials to their helmets and their uniforms.

There’s over 300 people, members of the Wisconsin Triathlon Club who knew Nancy personally, who knew of her, and she was truly an inspiration.

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