Wisconsin Man Charged After Alleged Brake-Check Led to Multi-Vehicle Crash in Cottage Grove
Published: August 11th, 2026.
COTTAGE GROVE: A Wisconsin man has been charged in Washington County after prosecutors allege he “brake-checked” another driver on Highway 61, triggering a chain-reaction crash that injured multiple people, including a child.
Scott Kevin Benner, 35, of Prescott, Wisconsin, is charged with felony criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm and two gross misdemeanor counts of criminal vehicular operation resulting in bodily harm.
According to the criminal complaint, Minnesota State Patrol troopers were dispatched around 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 7, 2025, to a multi-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 61 in Cottage Grove.
When troopers arrived, they found multiple vehicles with significant damage. A Honda Fit was in the median with severe front-end damage, while a Ford Focus was near the right shoulder with significant rear damage.
Troopers found a young child lying in the grass near the Honda Fit and the child's mother in the front seat of the vehicle. Paramedics were treating both, according to the complaint.
A driver involved in the crash told troopers that a blue pickup had entered the left lane and suddenly stopped, causing multiple vehicles to slam on their brakes. Another driver told troopers that two vehicles had stopped in the left lane immediately before the crash.
According to the complaint, another driver told troopers he had been traveling northbound on Highway 61 after leaving a red light at Highway 95 when he noticed a bluish-gray pickup following him closely.
The pickup driver allegedly began honking before moving into the right lane, passing him and cutting back into the left lane. The pickup then allegedly came to a complete stop in the left lane.
The complaint alleges the sudden stop caused a chain reaction that ultimately led to the crash. The pickup then allegedly left the scene at a high rate of speed.
Troopers obtained the pickup's license plate number and determined it was registered to Benner.
According to the complaint, troopers later spoke with Benner at his home in Prescott. Benner allegedly admitted he had been driving and said the vehicle ahead of him was going slowly, causing him to begin honking.
Benner allegedly told troopers he changed lanes, passed the vehicle and then “brake-checked” the driver. According to the complaint, Benner said he was in a bad mood and did it because he wanted the other driver to move into the right lane. He also allegedly acknowledged that brake-checking the vehicle was not the right thing to do.
Troopers obtained highway camera footage that allegedly showed Benner abruptly stopping in the left lane. According to the complaint, the footage showed his actions caused a chain reaction that ultimately led to the crash.
Three people were transported to Regions Hospital following the crash.
The child's mother was diagnosed with multiple injuries, including fractures to ribs on both sides of her body, a laceration to her left leg and a fracture in her left hand that required surgery.
The child suffered a small laceration to the tongue, abrasions to the neck consistent with seat belt use and a hematoma to the scalp, according to the complaint.
Benner faces up to three years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine on the felony criminal vehicular operation charge. Each gross misdemeanor charge carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
The charges are allegations, and Benner is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.