April 24, 2026 – West Bend, Wi – A 54-year-old West Bend man has been charged with a felony in connection with a hit-and-run crash on April 20, 2026, that injured one person and killed a dog.
Aaron Maeder was in Washington County Circuit Court on Friday.
The full criminal complaint is below.
1H&RCriminal Complaint; 2026CF000243; Maeder, Aaron Michael_4337527_1Click the arrow in the lower left corner to advance the page.
Maeder was released on $5000 cash bond. He’s next set to appear in court May 27, 2026 for a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Sandra Giernoth.
Below are previous articles about the incident.
April 23, 2026 – Town of West Bend, Wi – Through continued investigative efforts, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has identified and taken a suspect into custody in connection with the hit-and-run crash that occurred on April 20, 2026, on Hillcrest Drive.
Vehicle parts recovered at the scene initially indicated the suspect vehicle to be a 2019–2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Satin Steel Metallic in color. Investigators used this information—combined with surveillance review, DOT records, evidence analysis, and follow-up interviews to systematically narrow the pool of potential vehicles.
On Thursday, April 23, at approximately 7:30 p.m., deputies following up on potential vehicles located a 2021 Chevrolet 1500 Silverado partially concealed in a driveway in the City of West Bend. The vehicle had damage consistent with the evidence recovered at the scene, along with deputies locating additional physical evidence indicators confirming it as the vehicle involved in the crash.
The driver, a 54-year-old City of West Bend man, was taken into custody without incident.
The suspect is currently being held at the Washington County Jail on charges related to hit-and-run causing injury. The case will be referred to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for review. The suspect vehicle was towed to the sheriff’s office and being held as evidence.
Sheriff Martin Schulteis said, “This case demonstrates what can be accomplished through persistent investigative work and an engaged community. Our investigators did outstanding work in identifying the vehicle and locating the suspect. This case sends a clear message: leaving the scene of a crash will not prevent you from being found. We will use every available resource to track you down and ensure you are held accountable for your actions.”
While the arrest was not the direct result of a citizen tip, all information provided by the public was thoroughly followed up on and helped keep this case in focus. We appreciate the community’s continued engagement.
Below are initial stories from the crash.
April 22, 2026 – Town of West Bend, Wi – Vehicle parts recovered at the scene have confirmed the suspect vehicle to be a 2019–2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Satin Steel Metallic in color. It is unknown at this time whether the vehicle is a crew cab or extended cab; however, it has been confirmed the vehicle is not a GMC model.
The vehicle is believed to be missing a section on the front passenger side above the bumper near the headlight, along with components of the passenger-side mirror housing.
Reference photos are included below to illustrate the type of damage being sought. It should be noted these images are not of the suspect vehicle.
The pictured vehicle, which had out-of-state license plates, was located in the City of West Bend by deputies during the investigation and is not involved in this incident. The images are being provided strictly for illustrative purposes, as the damage observed is consistent with what investigators are looking for.
However, the last picture of the vehicle part is a portion of the actual evidence collected at the scene.
Updated information indicates the vehicle was traveling eastbound on Hillcrest Drive and did not originate from Nabob Drive, as previously reported. After the crash, the vehicle continued eastbound and proceeded in an unknown direction on Highway 144.
Sheriff Martin Schulteis said of the case, “Someone out there knows this truck. It might be a neighbor, a coworker, or even a family member who suddenly hasn’t seen it being driven since this crash occurred. Those small observations matter. We’ve seen time and again how quickly information can spread through social media, and how powerful that can be in helping us identify vehicles and individuals involved in incidents like this. If something doesn’t seem right, we ask you to share the information with law enforcement—because that one tip could make the difference. I would also encourage the driver involved to do the right thing and come forward. It is always better to self-report than to have law enforcement come to you—because we will continue to follow every lead until we identify the responsible driver.”
The initial report is below.
April 21, 2026 – Town of West Bend, Wi – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is seeking community assistance in locating a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run crash that occurred April 20, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Hillcrest Drive in the Town of West Bend.
The suspect vehicle came from Nabob Drive and traveled east on Hillcrest Drive before striking a dog and a person. The vehicle continued on. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries and the dog died at the scene.
Preliminary evidence indicates the suspect vehicle is a silver or gray 2019 to 2022 Chevrolet or GMC 1500 or 2500 pick up truck.
If you have information about this incident, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
The neighbor of the person hit has contacted WashingtonCountyInsider.com to report the dog was killed in the incident.
This is a working story and more information will be shared when details are available.