Fatal Pedestrian Accident on State Highway 31 in Village of Somers, Kenosha County

In the pre-dawn hours of May 13th, 2025, a tragic pedestrian fatality occurred on State Highway 31/Green Bay Road in the Village of Somers, Kenosha County. At approximately 3:00 AM, Kenosha Joint Services 911 received an alert from a motorist who reported striking a pedestrian attempting to cross the highway from east to west in the northbound lanes of the 3500 block of State Highway 31. First responders from the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office and Village of Somers Fire Department were immediately dispatched to the scene. Despite their swift response, the pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the location by representatives from the Kenosha County Medical Examiner's Office. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured in the collision and remained at the scene, fully cooperating with investigating officers. Due to the severity of the incident, the Kenosha County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was activated to conduct a thorough investigation. Authorities have temporarily withheld the victim's identity pending notification of family members.

Location and Infrastructure

The accident occurred in the 3500 block of State Highway 31/Green Bay Road, a major north-south corridor that runs through Kenosha County in the Village of Somers. This section of highway features multiple lanes of traffic with relatively high speed limits and is known for consistent vehicle traffic even during overnight hours. The area where the collision took place is primarily commercial with limited pedestrian infrastructure, particularly at night when visibility is significantly reduced. The east-west crossing attempted by the pedestrian would have required traversing multiple lanes of traffic in an area not typically designed for pedestrian movement. Without dedicated crosswalks or pedestrian signals in this specific section, pedestrians face considerable risks when attempting to cross, especially during nighttime hours when driver visibility is compromised and reaction times are potentially slower.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Wisconsin law, both pedestrians and drivers have specific legal responsibilities that may be relevant to this type of accident. Wisconsin Statute 346.23 governs pedestrian right-of-way rules, while 346.24 addresses crossing at uncontrolled intersections or crosswalks. In fatal accident cases like this, surviving family members may have rights to pursue wrongful death claims within Wisconsin's three-year statute of limitations. Potential compensation could include funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship damages. The investigation will likely examine factors such as visibility conditions, speed, potential distraction, and whether the pedestrian was crossing at an appropriate location. Insurance considerations may involve the driver's liability coverage and potentially uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if applicable. Wisconsin follows a modified comparative negligence system, meaning compensation may be adjusted based on the degree of fault assigned to each party involved.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Kenosha County Sheriff's Office: (262) 605-5100
• Village of Somers Fire Department: (262) 859-2401
• Kenosha County Medical Examiner's Office: (262) 653-2836

Crisis Support:

• Kenosha Human Development Services Crisis Line (available 24/7): (262) 657-7188
• Kenosha County Victim/Witness Services: (262) 653-2400

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation Safety Programs: wisconsindot.gov/safety
• Kenosha County Traffic Safety Commission
• Wisconsin State Patrol - Southeast Region: (262) 785-4700

Legal Information:

• Wisconsin State Law Library: wilawlibrary.gov
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation Crash Reports: wisconsindot.gov/crashreports