Shortly after 11 p.m. on Aug. 7, a seatbelt-related traffic stop in downtown Lake Geneva escalated when the driver fled police and drove down a boat ramp into Lake Como, stopping about 100 feet from shore. All four occupants escaped and swam to a pier; two were taken to a hospital. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Cash Rauscher, faces felony counts including flee/elude and recklessly endangering safety; bond was set at $10,000 and an arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 28.
Routine Seatbelt Stop Ends With Car 100 Feet Into Lake Como — 18-Year-Old Faces Felony Charges
A Seatbelt Stop in Lake Geneva Ended 100 Feet Into Lake Como
Shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, what began as a routine traffic stop in downtown Lake Geneva, Wisconsin — for a passenger not wearing a seatbelt — ended with a vehicle about 100 feet offshore in Lake Como, four people swimming to a nearby pier in darkness, and an 18-year-old driver now facing felony counts.
What Happened
According to the Lake Geneva Police Department, an officer near Broad Street and Wrigley Drive observed a passenger leaning out of a car window without a seatbelt and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver accelerated instead of complying. Police say the vehicle traveled the wrong way on a one-way street, ran stop signs, left the city limits into the Town of Geneva and continued down the public boat-launch ramp on Schofield Drive into Lake Como. Investigators estimate the vehicle came to rest roughly 100 feet from shore.
Video, Witnesses And Statements
The department released dashcam and body-worn camera footage. Dashcam video aired by WISN shows sparks coming from beneath the fleeing vehicle; a witness interviewed by TMJ4 described seeing similar sparks. On body-camera audio transcribed by CBS 58, the driver tells officers, \"I wasn't thinking,\" and acknowledges he could have hurt others and \"made my life worse.\"
Charges And Legal Context
Police identified the driver as Cash Rauscher, 18, of Delavan. Local reporting (FOX6) says he faces one count of vehicle operator flee/elude officer and three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety; bond was set at $10,000 cash. Additional citations reported include operating without a license, operating without insurance, failure to obey a traffic officer, failure to stop at a stop sign, unreasonable and imprudent speed, reckless driving, and a violation of Wisconsin's absolute sobriety law for drivers under 21.
Under Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) the base flee/elude offense is a Class H felony; it is elevated to a Class G felony if the flight causes bodily harm or property damage and can increase further if someone is seriously injured or killed. A Class H conviction carries a statutory maximum of six years; a Class G conviction carries a statutory maximum of 10 years. Second-degree recklessly endangering safety is a separate Class G felony. These are potential maximum penalties and not predictions of sentence.
Under-21 'Absolute Sobriety' Rule
Wisconsin's absolute sobriety rule bars drivers under 21 from operating with any detectable alcohol. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a youth violation typically carries a $200 fine, a three-month license suspension and four demerit points; it is a citation rather than an OWI charge. Police have not released any alcohol-test results in this case.
Rescue And Safety Takeaways
All four occupants escaped the sinking vehicle and swam to a pier, where officers helped them out of the water. Two were taken to a hospital and two declined further treatment. Cars generally do not remain buoyant for long; AAA guidance stresses quick action if a vehicle enters water: stay calm, unbuckle, open or break a window, and get out (children first). Power windows may work briefly after submersion; opening a door can speed flooding and sinking, and waiting for the cabin to fill is dangerous.
Practical note: spring-loaded window punches work on tempered glass but may be ineffective on laminated side glass used in many newer vehicles. Check the owner's manual or window markings when assembling an emergency kit.
Open Questions
Public records so far do not include the car's make or model or a pursuit speed. Video cannot conclusively identify the source of visible sparks. The footage and statements released to date also do not explain why the vehicle went straight down the boat ramp instead of turning away; those details may appear in court filings or future police statements and should not be the subject of speculation until then.
Sources
Lake Geneva Police Department dashcam and body-camera footage and statements; reporting by WISN, CBS 58, FOX6 and TMJ4; Wisconsin Court System criminal jury instruction 2630; Wisconsin Department of Transportation; AAA.
Help us improve.
