Nurse in Wedding Dress Rushes to Aid Two College Grads Hit by Car in Milwaukee
Two young women celebrating their college graduations were seriously injured when a car plowed through a barricade and struck them in downtown Milwaukee on an early Sunday morning, police confirmed.
The crash happened around 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the intersection of Water and State Streets, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. Investigators say the driver “disregarded a traffic barrier” before hitting the pedestrians.
Both victims—identified as 22-year-old Chloe Handrich and her friend, Samantha “Sam” Zganjar—sustained serious, but non-fatal injuries and were taken to a local hospital.
Nurse in Wedding Dress Rushed to Help
Alex Michaelis, a registered nurse, had just finished celebrating her own wedding when she heard the crash while walking near Water Street.
“I was in my wedding dress, actually, when I ran over there,” Michaelis told WISN 12 News. “It was just so loud. I just remember that. And when I got to the scene there, that's when I saw the two young women injured.”
Michaelis immediately began providing care, using her medical training to stabilize the women until paramedics arrived.
“She was unconscious for a while, so I was very nervous about her,” she said, referring to one of the victims.
Chloe’s Battle for Recovery
“It’s like every parent's nightmare,” Chloe’s mother, Karen Handrich, told WTMJ of receiving the early morning call that her daughter was in the emergency room. “You never want to get a call like that.”
Chloe, 22, who recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, remains in the ICU with a combination of life-threatening and complex injuries. She suffered severe head trauma, multiple fractures to her pelvis and legs, a grade four liver laceration, and a partially collapsed lung. Her condition is critical, and she faces a long and challenging recovery that will require both intensive medical care and extensive rehabilitation.
Her mother described Chloe as “the most caring person you would ever meet,” adding that Chloe studied psychology and biology and plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant or continue working in the medical field. “She works at Froedtert and has been there for many years,” Karen said.
Sam’s Recovery Journey
Sam, also 22, endured a series of painful and extensive injuries in the crash. She lost multiple teeth, broke her nose, and sustained several fractures to her hand. She also suffered internal contusions and deep lacerations to her face and body that required 16 stitches. Sam is currently restricted to soft foods and liquids due to her dental injuries and is expected to undergo months of reconstructive dental work, physical therapy, and ongoing medical treatments as she heals.
Samantha recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and is preparing to start her master’s program this fall. Her father, Joe Zganjar, described her as “always looking to have a good time, always wants to be the life of the party, runs around, hangs out with her friends constantly.”
Families Outraged Over Driver’s Consequences
According to Milwaukee Police, the driver who hit the two women received only a ticket for failing to yield, driving without insurance, and driving without registration.
“There was no regard for these two 22-year-old girls whose lives have completely changed. The trajectory of their lives has changed forever because of this reckless driver who completely ignored a barricade and went flying through a barricade,” Chloe’s mother explained.
Sam’s father said the penalties feel like a slap on the wrist.
“People need to be held accountable for what they do,” he said. “I hope when that time comes, that driver accepts all responsibility and I hope she is punished in the full extent of the law.”
Families of both victims are demanding accountability and urging city officials to consider stronger safety measures on pedestrian-only streets like Water Street.
How to Help Chloe and Sam
Both young women face long and costly recoveries, and their families are navigating a difficult road ahead. Friends and family have set up verified GoFundMe campaigns to help with medical bills, therapy, and other expenses.
🤔Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below!
If you have a nursing news story that deserves to be heard, we want to amplify it to our massive community of millions of nurses! Get your story in front of Nurse.org Editors now - click here to fill out our quick submission form today!
