A former Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bus driver has been sentenced to prison following a fatal November 2025 crash in Greenfield that took the life of a 61-year-old pedestrian.
Dameon Peters, 55, was sentenced in Milwaukee County Circuit Court to six years in state prison followed by four years of extended supervision. In August 2026, Peters pleaded guilty to homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration.
The Incident at 56th and Forest Home
On the evening of November 22, 2025, Greenfield police responded to the intersection of 56th Street and Forest Home Avenue around 6:45 p.m. Officers found bystanders performing CPR on George Kayser, a 61-year-old Wauwatosa resident, who had been struck in the middle of the street. Kayser was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Witnesses at the scene directed officers to an MCTS bus parked further down the road. When questioned by police:
- Peters admitted he was driving the bus when he saw someone walk into the intersection.
- He reported hearing a “thud” after trying to steer away, but claimed he did not realize he had hit a pedestrian until seeing a person lying in the street through his rearview mirror.
- A consensual blood draw taken at a hospital shortly before 8:00 p.m. revealed Peters had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.236—nearly three times the legal limit for standard drivers and nearly six times the legal limit for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders.
Bus Footage and Termination
Internal security footage from the bus played a crucial role during the investigation:
- Erratic Driving: Video records showed Peters had been on shift since 3:00 p.m. Prior to the crash, the bus swerved over bike lanes and hit a curb.
- Moment of Impact: Footage recorded Peters “blinking” and “squinting to the point that his eyes almost look closed” right before striking Kayser.
- Immediate Reaction: Following the impact, Peters appeared to snap alert and asked aloud, “Was that a person?”
MCTS immediately suspended Peters following the incident and officially terminated his employment two days later after completing an internal investigation.
Key Details Summary
| Detail | Summary |
| Defendant | Dameon Peters, 55 (Former MCTS Driver) |
| Victim | George Kayser, 61 |
| Crash Date & Location | Nov. 22, 2025 – 56th & Forest Home Ave, Greenfield, WI |
| Blood Alcohol Content | 0.236 BAC |
| Sentence | 6 years prison + 4 years extended supervision |
