Driver charged in Milwaukee crash that killed 3 Chicago women

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From left: Ashley Sawatzke, Amy Taylor and Lindsey Cohen | Energy BBDO

Jasen Randhawa, 23, turned himself in a day after the crash, according to Milwaukee police.

About 3:50 a.m. Sunday, a 2015 Lexus R350 was going south on North 2nd Street when it went through a red light and struck a 2013 Ford Fusion heading west on West Clybourn Avenue about 2:50 a.m., police said.

The driver of the Ford, a 41-year-old man working as an Uber driver, was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

His three passengers — Ashley L. Sawatzke, 30; Amy C. Taylor, 32; and Lindsey B. Cohen, 35 — were killed in the crash, police said. They were friends who met while working at the Chicago advertising agency Energy BBDO.

“Our hearts are broken,” the company said on its Facebook page. “Their absence is deeply felt by everyone at Energy BBDO and well beyond.”

Randhawa and a passenger ran away from the Lexus after the crash, but he turned himself in Monday, authorities allege.

The Mequon, Wisconsin, resident was charged Thursday with three counts of second-degree reckless homicide, one count of second-degree reckless injury, three counts of hit-and-run involving death and one count of hit-and-run involving great bodily harm, according to Milwaukee County Circuit Court records.

He also faces four additional felonies for driving with a license that had been revoked following a previous DUI conviction, records show.

Randhawa was jailed on a $1 million bond, according to the Milwaukee County sheriff’s office. His next court date is Nov. 7.

Jasen Randhawa, 23, turned himself in a day after the crash, according to Milwaukee police.

About 3:50 a.m. Sunday, a 2015 Lexus R350 was going south on North 2nd Street when it went through a red light and struck a 2013 Ford Fusion heading west on West Clybourn Avenue about 2:50 a.m., police said.

The driver of the Ford, a 41-year-old man working as an Uber driver, was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

His three passengers — Ashley L. Sawatzke, 30; Amy C. Taylor, 32; and Lindsey B. Cohen, 35 — were killed in the crash, police said. They were friends who met while working at the Chicago advertising agency Energy BBDO.

“Our hearts are broken,” the company said on its Facebook page. “Their absence is deeply felt by everyone at Energy BBDO and well beyond.”

Randhawa and a passenger ran away from the Lexus after the crash, but he turned himself in Monday, authorities allege.

The Mequon, Wisconsin, resident was charged Thursday with three counts of second-degree reckless homicide, one count of second-degree reckless injury, three counts of hit-and-run involving death and one count of hit-and-run involving great bodily harm, according to Milwaukee County Circuit Court records.

He also faces four additional felonies for driving with a license that had been revoked following a previous DUI conviction, records show.

Randhawa was jailed on a $1 million bond, according to the Milwaukee County sheriff’s office. His next court date is Nov. 7.