APPLETON — Appleton police have arrested an 18-year-old in connection with a crash over the weekend that killed one person and seriously injured another.
According to a news release, Appleton Police responded in the early morning hours Oct. 4, 2025 to a significant two-vehicle crash at the intersection of North Richmond Street and the I-41 northbound off-ramp.
When they arrived, officers found one of the vehicle’s engine compartments fully engulfed in flames. Both the driver and passenger from that vehicle had gotten out before police arrived and were found to have sustained minor injuries. Appleton Fire Department personnel quickly extinguished the fire, making the scene safe.
Inside the second vehicle, officers located a driver and a front-seat passenger who were both unconscious and had sustained serious injuries.
Due to the extent of the damage, fire personnel were required to extricate the driver.
Both people were taken to a local hospital, where the driver later died as a result of his injuries.
Investigators allege the driver of the first vehicle had been operating while under the influence of alcohol.
Police say further investigation determined that the vehicle had been traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour and had failed to stop for a red light when the collision occurred.
Based on these findings, the driver, an 18-year-old from Larsen, was arrested and confined at the Outagamie County Jail.
Although formal charges have yet to be filed in court, police are recommending charges of First-Degree Reckless Homicide and Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Injury.
