Hit-and-run leaves Miss Wisconsin stranded

By Marci Laehr Tenuta
Journal Times

Sunday, October 19, 2008 9:39 PM CDT

RACINE — Just home from an exhausting trip to Los Angeles, Miss Wisconsin Briana Lipor was heading out to meet a friend for coffee on Oct. 11. But on the way, her car was struck by a red truck or SUV.

The accident severely damaged her Ford Focus, and the driver who hit her drove away.

The Racine Police Department is investigating the crash, but meanwhile Lipor is without transportation to events and doesn’t have any income to pay for the repairs.

“I am without a vehicle,” Lipor said. “I’m stranded in Racine.”

She would like anyone who might have witnessed the crash, or anyone who sees a red truck or SUV with front-end damage, to contact authorities.

Her car sustained about $4,000 in damage due to the collision. She’s insured, but the deductible is still $500. Lipor said she’ll have to go into debt to pay just the

insurance deductible.

As Miss Wisconsin, Lipor is expected to focus 100 percent of her time and effort on her responsibilities to the organization. The 22-year-old Racine native has completed her junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and is taking this academic year off. As Miss Wisconsin, she gets a full college scholarship.

The pageant strongly advised her not to work during her year of service, because a work schedule could conflict with events she was expected to attend around the state, she said.

“When someone calls for an appearance, she has to be available,” said Lynn Paulus, Miss Wisconsin’s business manager.

Lipor travels to fundraisers, nonprofit events, schools and tours and advocates for the Children’s Miracle Network and arts fundraising.

“I literally go all around the state,” she said. “I drive

myself.”

Fortunately, she hasn’t had to miss anything over the past week, but she’s upset at the position the hit-and-run crash has put her in.

In past years, Miss Wisconsin has been invited to speak in front of the state Legislature. Women serving as Miss Wisconsin in the past have spoken about what their pageant platforms have been. Lipor said she won’t be talking about her platform: Save the Arts.

“When I get my chance, I’m going to speak about making it a law in Wisconsin to have (auto) insurance,” she said.

While Lipor was not seriously hurt in the crash, she said it was a disturbing thing to go through.

A friend was home from Madison, and they wanted to meet for coffee. Lipor had just returned from Los Angeles, where she was taking part in a Miss America reality show to air on TLC before the pageant.

“It was supposed to be a nice, relaxing night,” Lipor said.

She was headed north on Racine Street, slowly approaching 16th Street where she intended to make a left turn, when was hit. The truck or SUV that smacked into her was eastbound on 16th Street and ran the traffic light.

The big vehicle hit Lipor’s car on the driver’s side, shattering her window, she said. The driver continued to push her car as he or she maneuvered away from the collision, and then headed south on

Racine.

The driver did not make any attempt to stop, she said.

Lipor said as soon as the truck or SUV kept moving, she knew the driver was going to flee. She tried to open her door, but couldn’t because it was crushed. She hopped over to the passenger side, but by the time she got out, the SUV was gone.

A few scratches and a sore shoulder were the only injuries she suffered in the crash. Passers-by called for help, and Lipor said she stood on the side of the road waiting for them to arrive.

Her car, with its “MIS WIS” license plates, sat damaged in the middle of the roadway. “It was kind of embarrassing,” Lipor said. “People kept stopping and calling out to me, ‘Miss Wisconsin, are you OK?’ But it was nice to see that so many people cared.”

She said she is also grateful she was in Racine when she was hit.

“Thank God it happened in my hometown,” Lipor said. “I could have been four hours away.”

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Racine Police Department at (262) 635-7700 or Crime Stoppers of Racine County Inc. at (262) 636-9330.

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