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346.67

346.67 Duty upon striking person or attended or occupied vehicle.

346.67(1)

(1) The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until the operator has fulfilled the following requirements:

346.67(1)(a)

(a) The operator shall give his or her name, address and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving to the person struck or to the operator or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with; and

346.67(1)(b)

(b) The operator shall, upon request and if available, exhibit his or her operator's license to the person struck or to the operator or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with; and

346.67(1)(c)

(c) The operator shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of such person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such carrying is requested by the injured person.

346.67(2)

(2) Any stop required under sub. (1) shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

346.67 - ANNOT.

History: 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 258.

346.67 - ANNOT.

Violation of this section is a felony. State ex rel. McDonald v. Douglas Cty. Cir. Ct. 100 Wis. 2d 569, 302 N.W.2d 462 (1981).

346.67 - ANNOT.

Elements of the duty under this section are discussed. State v. Lloyd, 104 Wis. 2d 49, 310 N.W.2d 617 (Ct. App. 1981).

346.67 - ANNOT.

Failure to stop and render aid to multiple victims of a single accident may result in multiple charges without multiplicity defects arising. State v. Hartnek, 146 Wis. 2d 188, 430 N.W.2d 361 (Ct. App. 1988).

346.67 - ANNOT.

A "person injured" in sub. (1) (c) includes a person who is fatally injured. A subsequent determination of instantaneous death does not absolve a person of the duty to investigate whether assistance is possible. State v. Swatek, 178 Wis. 2d 1, 502 N.W.2d 909 (Ct. App. 1993).

346.67 - ANNOT.

"Accident" in sub. (1) means an unexpected, undesirable event and may encompass intentional conduct. By including intentional conduct within the definition, the reporting requirements do not infringe on the 5th amendment privilege against self-incrimination. State v. Harmon, 2006 WI App 214, 296 Wis. 2d 861, 723 N.W. 2d 732, 05-2480.

346.67 - ANNOT.

"Accident" in the context of sub. (1) includes, at a minimum, the operator's loss of control of the vehicle that results in a collision. Because the defendant's loss of control of the vehicle occurred on the highway, even though the resulting collision occurred off the highway, she was "involved in an accident" "upon a highway" within the meaning of sub. (1) and s. 346.02 (1). State v. Dartez, 2007 WI App 126, 301 Wis. 2d 499, 731 N.W.2d 340, 06-1845.

346.67 - ANNOT.

Sub. (1) requires an operator of a vehicle to identify him or herself as the operator of the vehicle. State v. Wuteska, 2007 WI App 157, 303 Wis. 2d 646, 735 N.W.2d 574, 06-2248.