Walker signs hit-and-run loophole bill inspired by Green Bay crash
MADISON - As they walked toward Governor Scott Walker's office, the Kennedy family saw their efforts to change state law, come to fruition.
Governor Walker signed a bill Wednesday, requiring drivers to get out of their vehicles anytime they hit something, or someone.
"We're all elated. I mean, it's great that it's finally done," said Colleen Kennedy.
Jeff and Colleen Kennedy lost their son, John, five years ago on Velp Avenue in Green Bay.
John Kennedy was in a wheelchair, when he was killed by a hit and run driver in 2011.
That driver, Mark Sperber, was convicted and spent a little over a year behind bars.
While in court, Sperber said he didn't stop, because he thought he hit a garbage can.
"It's something where, right now people are rolling the dice," said State Rep. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere.
Jacque is one of the state representatives who introduced the bill into the legislature last May.
"If they get in an accident and they weren't supposed to be driving, for any number of reasons, and this is going to say if you do that, you're going to get caught," Jacque said.
The bill closes what some considered a loophole in the current hit-and-run law.
"I was taught that when you hit something, you are responsible for stopping to investigate but as we found out in our son's case, that was no longer the law," Jeff Kennedy said.
He knows the bill won't bring his son back but he hopes the bill will help keep another family from losing their son or daughter
"l don't know if there's ever closure when you lose a child. It's just something we had to fight for," Jeff Kennedy said.
Gov. Walker also signed 55 other bills into law Wednesday.
