Wis. Police Officer Seriously Injured by Recklessly Driven Tow Truck

A Madison police officer is in stable condition after their cruiser was struck by a tow truck driver who was fleeing authorities after he allegedly was driving recklessly.

By Samara Kalk Der

Source The Wisconsin State Journal

Sept. 29, 2025

3 min read

What to know

A 36-year-old man was arrested Saturday after leading Monona police on a reckless pursuit in a tow truck that ended with a crash into a Madison police cruiser.
A Madison police officer was in stable condition after suffering serious injuries after their cruiser was struck.
The suspect, who had an outstanding parole warrant, was taken into custody after fleeing on foot, and he faces tentative charges, including felony eluding, reckless driving, resisting an officer.

A tow truck fleeing authorities struck a Madison, WI, police officer's cruiser Saturday, seriously injuring the officer.

A Madison man was arrested Saturday after driving a tow truck recklessly in Monona, striking a Madison police vehicle and seriously injuring an officer, authorities said.

Christopher P. Brugger, 36, was taken into custody after leading Monona police in a pursuit, Monona Assistant Chief Sara Deuman said in a statement.

Monona officers were called just before 2 p.m. on a report of a tow truck driving recklessly on Highway 51. The caller said the tow truck nearly struck multiple vehicles and reported that the driver pulled into the BP gas station at 1220 E. Broadway, Deuman said.

As Monona officers approached the truck, Brugger took off, driving over the grass and curb onto eastbound Broadway. Brugger drove into another parking lot where he again drove over the curb and sidewalk, back onto westbound Broadway, eluding officers.

Monona officers asked for assistance from other law enforcement agencies because of the “ongoing threat to the community resulting from the driver’s dangerous driving behavior,” the statement said.

Brugger continued west on Broadway to Monona Drive where he again drove over a median on Monona Drive into a parking lot on the 6400 block. He drove through the parking lot, turned back onto Broadway, where the sedan on the flatbed of the tow truck slid off, landing in the road, Deuman said.

He continued on Broadway, Highway 51 and eventually took Siggelkow Road to Erling Avenue to Terminal Drive, where he swerved into the oncoming traffic lane and struck the Madison police squad.

Brugger then jumped from the truck and was arrested after a brief foot chase. He’s in the Dane County Jail, records show.

Brugger faced an outstanding probation and parole warrant and was arrested on tentative charges of felony eluding, reckless driving, resisting an officer and multiple traffic violations.

Deuman said Brugger had caused a prior collision with an Monona police squad.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol are leading the investigation into the incident.

Monona police were assisted by Madison, McFarland, Fitchburg and Mable Bluff police, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol, she said.

“Our thoughts are with the injured MPD officer, their family and co-workers,” Deuman wrote. The injured officer was not identified.

Madison police said in a statement that the officer involved sustained serious injuries but is in stable condition, adding “the officer and their family are requesting privacy at this time.”

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