Inset: A photo of Hussein Farhat is shown at a memorial for him in December 2024 (WBBM-TV/YouTube). Background: Christopher Sponholz appears in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, court in December 2024 (WISN/YouTube).
The tragic incident unfolded on a bustling Wisconsin highway, where a tow truck driver dedicated to his duties met an untimely death. Christopher Sponholz, 40, has now acknowledged his role in the fatal event, admitting guilt in a hit-and-run case that resulted in a death. Court records from Waukesha County, examined by Law&Crime, confirm that Sponholz pleaded guilty on Thursday to the charges against him.
As a consequence of his actions, Sponholz received a prison sentence of seven years, with credit for the 421 days he has already served. This will be followed by a decade of extended supervision, a decision that underscores the gravity of the offense.
The victim, Hussein Farhat, also aged 40, lost his life on December 24, 2024, following a tragic accident. On that fateful Christmas Eve, Farhat was diligently working to load a disabled vehicle onto his tow truck along Interstate 94, near Summit, Wisconsin, roughly 30 miles west of Milwaukee. In a heartbreaking turn of events, a blue minivan traveling at a speed of at least 80 mph struck Farhat. A witness reported that the minivan did not halt; it continued at high speed until its driver exited at the next available off-ramp, as detailed by the local Fox affiliate, WITI.
Emergency services swiftly arrived at the scene and transported Farhat to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead 12 hours later, as reported by Milwaukee’s ABC affiliate, WISN.
On that day, Christmas Eve, Farhat was loading a disabled vehicle onto his tow truck on I-94 in the area of Summit, Wisconsin, some 30 miles west of Milwaukee. Suddenly, a blue minivan going at least 80 mph struck Farhat, with a witness saying the van did not stop — instead continuing to drive at that speed until its driver got off at the next exit, according to area Fox affiliate WITI.
Authorities responded to the scene and took Farhat to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead 12 hours later, Milwaukee-based ABC affiliate WISN reported.
Sponholz was reportedly identified as the driver of the minivan the following day when someone recognized the vehicle from the hit-and-run in the village of Wales, Wisconsin, about six miles east of Summit. He is said to have told a friend he hit a deer the night of the crash.
The defendant then turned himself in to police.
Sponholz was repentant during his Thursday court hearing, saying, “I want to apologize and let you know how truly sorry I am. I apologize to him daily. I know there is nothing I can do to bring him back, and it hurts so much.”
Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge William Domina remained critical of Sponholz”s actions.
“People deserve to be treated as human beings,” he said, per WISN. “Not as garbage. Not discarded. Not dumped, in a ditch, and pushed to the side like a dead deer.”
Farhat left behind a wife and three young children.
His death ignited calls for people to respect tow truck drivers and slow down as they approach them, with roughly 100 tow trucks joining a memorial for the victim, according to footage from Chicago-based CBS affiliate WBBM-TV.
