Full Notification

Contact Person: Captain Jude Maurer
608-757-7944
Date: September 25, 2019
CASE: SO1950206

On September 25, 2019 at 8:08 a.m., Rock County Sheriff’s Deputies, Wisconsin State Patrol, Janesville Fire/EMS, Rock County Sheriff Reconstruction Team, Rock County Drone Team, and the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to E. Highway 11 and Interstate I39/90 for a traffic accident with injuries. It was reported that one of the operators was possibly deceased and that the other vehicle had fled the scene.

Witnesses reported to deputies that a motorcycle was on the off ramp of I39/90 turning westbound onto Highway 11 when a westbound Semi Tractor Trailer, also on E. Highway 11, failed to stop at a red traffic signal and ran over the motorcyclist. After hitting the motorcycle the Semi continued westbound on Highway 11 and fled the area. The operator of the motorcycle was pronounced deceased at the scene. The suspect vehicle is described as a white Volvo sleeper tractor pulling a white trailer.

The Medical Examiner’s office has scheduled an autopsy and will release the identity of the victim after notification of the decedent’s next of kin.

Update:
Through witness statements made on scene, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with Wisconsin State Patrol, Summit Illinois Police Department and Illinois State Police recovered the semi-truck involved in the hit and run. The driver, identified as 29 year old Branko Jovanovic of Lyons, IL. and his attorney met detectives at the Rock County Sheriff’s Office and he was subsequently arrested for Hit and Run causing death. He is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Friday 09/27/19 at 3:00PM.

Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Troy J. Knudson
SHERIFF

By: Sergeant Douglas Coulter, 1st Shift Patrol Division