KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha Police have released the identity of the 67-year-old man killed Monday in a violent crash that prosecutors allege was caused by a 21-year-old Bristol woman driving too fast and under the influence of marijuana. The victim was identified as David A. Aiken, 67. Kenosha Police provided Aiken’s name Wednesday in response to a records request from Kenosha County Eye. Kenosha Police Lt. Adam Jurgens assured Kenosha County Eye that next-of-kin notification had been made.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
Natalie Faith Benante, 21, of Bristol, is charged with second-degree reckless homicide, homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and knowingly operating without a valid license causing death. Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum set Benante’s cash bail at $200,000 Tuesday.
The charges stem from the Aug. 10 crash on 52nd Street in Kenosha. According to the criminal complaint, Kenosha Police officers were dispatched at approximately 2:25 p.m. for a report of a high-speed, two-vehicle crash with severe injuries. Officers found a red 2015 Chevrolet Spark and a blue 2026 Honda Civic with heavy, disabling front-end damage. Aiken, the sole occupant and driver of the Chevrolet, was unconscious and not breathing and was pronounced dead at the scene by Kenosha Fire Department personnel.
Benante was identified as the driver and sole occupant of the Honda. She had to be extricated from the vehicle and was transported by ambulance to Froedtert South Pleasant Prairie Hospital for emergency treatment. Police subsequently learned Benante did not possess a valid Wisconsin driver’s license and that her Illinois license had expired Dec. 24, 2025. Benante allegedly admitted that she knew her license had been expired for approximately eight months but continued driving because she lacked the money to renew it or obtain a Wisconsin license.
An eyewitness told police that Benante’s Honda exited the Kwik Trip at 6300 52nd Street at a high rate of speed and was swerving and fishtailing before striking another vehicle. According to the complaint, the Honda scraped along the driver’s side of that vehicle before being pushed into the eastbound lane and colliding head-on with Aiken’s Chevrolet.
Benante allegedly gave police her own account of the moments leading up to the fatal collision. She admitted in a written statement that she attempted to pass another vehicle using the curb lane while traveling westbound on 52nd Street. When she realized the lane was ending, Benante said she attempted to merge back while “going too fast,” lost control, spun across the double-yellow line and entered oncoming traffic, striking Aiken’s car head-on.
Police also found an empty “Muha Meds” vape box labeled “Lychee Kush Hybrid” on the passenger-side floorboard of Benante’s Honda. At the hospital, Benante allegedly admitted to Kenosha Police Officer Aquino, an IACP-certified Drug Recognition Expert, that she had taken two hits of Indica marijuana from a bong at approximately 9:30 that morning.
Aquino reported observing several clinical signs of impairment, including a significant time-estimation deficit and a lack of convergence in Benante’s eyes. Based on his training, observations and Benante’s admission of marijuana use, Aquino concluded that Benante was under the influence of cannabis to a degree that rendered her incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle.
Benante consented to a blood draw at approximately 5:05 p.m. The criminal complaint does not contain the results of laboratory testing on that blood.
As police placed Benante under arrest for OWI, she allegedly made a series of spontaneous statements about what had happened.
“I’m sad,” Benante allegedly said. “I truly murdered that man.”
She then allegedly told officers, “I can’t even smoke weed. Like this fucking sucks, but it is what it is.”
The homicide-by-intoxicated-use-of-a-vehicle charge is a Class D felony carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Wisconsin law generally requires at least five years of initial confinement upon conviction unless the sentencing judge finds a compelling reason to impose less. The charge of knowingly operating without a valid license causing death is a Class H felony carrying up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The amended complaint added second-degree reckless homicide, another Class D felony.
Benante remains subject to the $200,000 cash bail set by Kellum. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18 at 10:45 a.m.
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One Response
Wow, what a sad story! Please hold this girl accountable!