Dangerous Young Woman

I don't think there's any question what should be done in this case.

Delafield -- A 16-year-old girl faces more trouble than a drunken driving ticket, police say, after she led police to believe that she wasn't driving a car that plunged into a retention pond, sending authorities and at least one passing motorist into the water after two possible drowning victims.

The two people she said were in the car were found safe elsewhere, leaving police to conclude that she was alone in the vehicle, Lt. Chuck Moranchek said.

"She continued to contend there were other people in the car, and she put other lives at risk," he said.

...Moranchek said the incident started when an employee from a nearby McDonald's called police because they believed an intoxicated girl just went through their drive-through restaurant Tuesday night. An officer was looking for the car in the area when he received the call at 11:10 p.m. that a car went into the pond in front of Westbrook Church in the 1100 block of Highway 83, just north of I-94, Moranchek said.

At the same time, Steve Lombardo, 23, of Delafield was driving south on Highway 83 when he saw the taillights of a car in the pond.

He pulled into the parking lot and saw the girl crying hysterically by the pond. He asked her if anyone else was in the car. She said her best friend was in the passenger seat, Lombardo said.

Lombardo threw his cell phone and wallet down and jumped into the pond. He was able to open the passenger door and feel around but couldn't find anyone. He checked the back seat and the driver's side, too. He got out of the water and saw a police officer had arrived, and he went back to the girl. She was now saying there were two people in the car and that she wasn't driving. She said she got out through the sunroof of the Toyota Camry.

Officer Doug Burke stripped off his gun belt, shirt and bulletproof vest and jumped into the dark, 12-foot-deep pond, Moranchek said. Lombardo also went back into the pond.

The two men, along with two firefighters, searched the water until the Town of Delafield Dive Team responded by 11:45 p.m.

...With four divers in the water and another dozen on the edge of the pond, the crew searched in and around the submerged Camry, Richards said. Then the divers searched 50 feet around the car. They didn't find anyone.

The divers, who were in the water for about 20 minutes, had just finished the search of the pond when they were told that the two others believed to be in the car were safe elsewhere, Richards said.

This drunk driver made false statements to police.

Telling authorities that two people were in the submerged car with her is no small false statement.

I think it would be a terrible mistake to give the young woman a pass on that. No one would be doing her a favor by excusing her dishonesty as the ramblings of a mixed up kid.

I don't see how she could stand by and allow Lombardo and authorities to search for the other "victims." Because of her concocted story, she let others put themselves at risk, all to avoid accepting responsibility for her irresponsible behavior.

What an incredible liar! She's selfish beyond words.

Anyone willing to claim two individuals were possibly dying or dead just to cover up for her own drunkenness has serious character issues.

This young woman has to be charged and held accountable for her lies.

Being charged won't ruin her life. She obviously needs a wake up call. I think failing to charge her has the potential to do far more damage to her and others down the road.

Clearly, she presents a danger to herself and a danger to society.