Two Filipinas killed in US hit-and-run incident

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Two Filipina women died in a hit-and-run incident when a driver hit the van they were riding early Saturday, October 11 on Interstate 94 in west-central Wisconsin, USA.

Larci Ricafrente, 28, of Waterford, Michigan, and Djamella Sugatan, 28, of the Philippines, were killed in the wreck at about 2:40 a.m. near Elk Mound the Highway Patrol said. The driver of the car fled the scene and was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk, the Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported.

The women who died were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the van. Four adults and two children in the van, all from the Chicago suburb of Schiller Park, were briefly treated for their injuries. All were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the police.

Michael D. Sonnentag, 21, of Cadott, Wisconsin was arrested more than four hours later on foot about 10 miles from the crash site. He is in custody on two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and drunken driving.

Sonnentag’s criminal history in Wisconsin includes a charge in August of driving with a suspended license, which is pending, and convictions for driving with open alcohol in a vehicle and underage drinking, said the Star Tribune report.

The highway patrol said the collision on westbound I-94 sent the van into trees off to the right of the interstate. Sonnentag fled in his car, leaving behind his damaged vehicle’s hood. Dunn County deputies found the car shortly after 4 a.m. about 9 miles west of the crash scene. The car was on a dead-end road and unoccupied.

Another mile west, a deputy spotted Sonnentag walking along a Menomonie road and apprehended him.  -With report from Inquirer.net US bureau