Janesville woman charged in East Milwaukee collision that severely injured motorcyclist

JANESVILLE — A 24-year-old woman was charged with knowingly operating a vehicle while suspended and causing great bodily harm, a felony, after a critical injury collision last month.

Skyla Richardson, of Janesville, failed to yield while making a left turn (a citation she received after the crash) and hit a 42-year-old Janesville man on a motorcycle, leaving him critically injured on April 13.

According to a criminal complaint, Richardson said she was driving to Kwik Trip on East Milwaukee Street at 30 mph, and tried to turn into the gas station when the collision occurred. She claimed she didn’t see the motorcycle before the crash. She also admitted to knowing that her driver’s license was suspended. Richardson’s driver’s license was suspended in March 2021, and has never been reinstated. Since that time, she has received two separate tickets for operating while her license was suspended.

A bystander with a dash cam showed the motorcyclist driving eastbound on Milwaukee Street when a gray SUV pulled into oncoming traffic. The motorist attempted to stop but was unable to in time, “striking the SUV.” The unidentified victim was transported to a hospital.

On April 17, officers received information about the victim’s injuries that included a cranial fracture, a fracture of the C7 vertebrae, a left side orbital fracture, a broken nose, broken left humerus, four breaks in the shoulder area, a collapsed lung, lacerated spleen and left kidney, broken pelvis and internal bleeding. At that time, he was totally incapacitated and on a ventilator.

On May 7, officers received an update and learned that the victim had been transported to a specialist in Madison. He is still receiving breathing and feeding assistance. His future cognitive abilities are still unknown, but he is alive and stable.

Due to the severity of the crash, Richardson consented to a blood draw to check for intoxication. She stated she was pregnant, so she hasn’t smoked or drank alcohol. The results are still pending.

Richardson’s adjourned initial appearance is on Tuesday, June 6, in Rock County Circuit Court at 10 a.m.