Deputies use Google AI on vehicle debris left at scene to trace drunk driver after hit-and-run leaves bicyclist injured, police say

A Texas man is behind bars in Wisconsin after hitting a bicyclist while driving drunk, law enforcement in the Badger State allege.

Duan K. Maiden II, 32, stands accused of hit-and-run resulting in great bodily harm, intoxicated use of a vehicle resulting in great bodily harm, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, and resisting or obstructing an officer, according to authorities in two counties.

The incident occurred on Sept. 3 at the intersection of Western Avenue and Division Road in Jackson — a small town and suburb located on the far northwestern edge of the Milwaukee metro area — according to a criminal complaint filed in Washington County.

On the night in question, Maiden was behind the wheel of "the striking vehicle" and "flying eastbound" but "never stopped for the stop sign," at the intersection, a witness said in the charging document.

"Witness 1 stated that the car then struck the bicyclist in the intersection, and kept going eastbound on Western Avenue," the complaint reads. "Witness 1 described the vehicle as a gray sedan."

As a result, the victim was left with "a compound leg fracture, and some fractures in his pelvis and spine/neck," law enforcement said.

A sheriff's deputy found "several plastic car pieces that were left on the scene" and found serial numbers on them, according to the charging document. Using Google AI, the deputy determined the car was likely a Nissan Versa.

Later that night, dispatch put investigators in touch with a man who claimed he was in the car Maiden was driving when the hit-and-run occurred, the complaint goes on to say.

Earlier that day, the defendant and the man had reached a lull in their canvassing work and were waiting for a new assignment, according to the charging document. During this respite, the man said he saw Maiden buy a bottle of vodka and take a drink from it. After that, the pair ate some pizza and listened to music for more than an hour, the complaint says.

"[T]here was a period of time while in the parking lot when the defendant left the car while Witness 4 remained inside, and the defendant was out of sight," the charging document reads. "Witness 4 stated that besides the defendant's driving behavior, the defendant did not appear intoxicated."

That was at first, the man told law enforcement.

Later, the man said, and roughly 1 mile before the crash, Maiden "started acting weird," according to the complaint.

"The defendant would begin driving in the opposite lane, and Witness 4 would have to tell the defendant that there was another car ahead of them," the charging document goes on. "[T]hey were coming up to a stop sign, and the defendant pulled up yielding, failing to stop at the stop sign. The defendant then sped up."

Then, when the bicyclist appeared, "their vehicle was too far in motion to stop," the man said, estimating they were traveling at 35 to 40 mph, according to law enforcement. That's "when the defendant struck the bicyclist with the front passenger area of their vehicle," the man said.

The passenger, who does not drive, said he reasoned with Maiden to stop and call police, to no avail.

"The defendant said, 'naw man,' and that 'he's ok,'" the complaint reads. "The defendant then continued driving from the scene."

Eventually, the other man got out and called 911.

"The information we got from the passenger, he was telling him you hit that person we need to stop and the driver said we're not stopping we're going," a Washington County Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Milwaukee-based ABC affiliate WISN. "It's hard to believe that someone could do that to another human."

Eventually, with the other man's help, law enforcement identified Maiden while he was driving, and after some effort, convinced him to pull over, according to the charging document.

Later, authorities performed field sobriety tests and Maiden failed half of them, law enforcement officials claim. A breath test returned a preliminary blood alcohol level of 0.268%, or more than three times the legal limit in Wisconsin, according to the complaint.

During an interview, the defendant said he "works for a company that canvasses neighborhoods for the upcoming Wisconsin governor race," according to the charging document. Maiden also recounted the time period during which he left the other canvasser alone in the parked car.

"The defendant stated that they were there for one hour, the complaint goes on. "[Maiden] went into the store and bought 4 BuzzBallz alcoholic drinks, which he believed to be about 15% ABV. The defendant admitted to consuming all four BuzzBallz, and did it outside the presence of Witness 4."

Maiden allegedly said he did not recall hitting anyone, or the other man telling him about the bicyclist.

"The defendant did state that he felt terrible and if he knew he hit someone, he would have stopped," the complaint concludes.