Lake Geneva, WI – A late-night police pursuit through the Lake Geneva area ended dramatically when a vehicle entered Lake Como and traveled approximately 100 feet into the water, forcing all four occupants to swim to safety.
According to the City of Lake Geneva Police Department, officers attempted to stop the vehicle at approximately 11:07 p.m. Friday in the 100 block of Broad Street after allegedly seeing a passenger hanging out of the vehicle without wearing a seat belt.
Police said the vehicle allegedly failed to stop, traveled the wrong way on a one-way street and accelerated to a high rate of speed while disregarding numerous traffic signs.
The pursuit continued into the Town of Geneva before the vehicle entered Lake Como from the boat launch on Schofield Drive, authorities said.
All four occupants escaped the vehicle and swam toward a nearby pier, where officers helped them out of the water. Emergency medical personnel evaluated all four. Two were transported to a hospital for treatment, while the other two declined further treatment.
Police identified the driver as Cash Rauscher, 18, of Delavan.
According to police, Rauscher was charged with multiple offenses, including fleeing or eluding a traffic officer, reckless driving-endangering safety, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, operating without a license and insurance, failure to obey a traffic officer, unreasonable and imprudent speed, failure to stop at a stop sign and violation of absolute sobriety.
The Town of Geneva Police Department, Walworth County Sheriff’s Office and City of Lake Geneva Fire Department assisted.
All charges are allegations, and Rauscher is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
