A 30-year-old Milwaukee resident was charged with driving in the wrong direction and causing an auto accident on Interstate 94. According to the complaint, the suspect was driving a car south in the northbound lanes in a portion of the interstate that had been closed to traffic. He collided with the back of an interstate worker’s truck. The accident caused injuries to the man as well as two other people: an a passenger in the his vehicle and an interstate worker.

Officers arriving on the scene noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from the man. Despite his initial refusal to submit to a BAC test, the man was transported to a hospital and was held down by a trooper and five security officers to get the blood for the test. The man also claimed that he had not been driving, but both his brother and a witness told the police that he was driving the car.

The BAC test showed that he had both marijuana and alcohol in his blood at the time of the crash according to authorities. He also had a history of OWI charges prior to this accident. He is charged with felony OWI causing injury and operating a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration causing injury.

The victims in this case may have grounds to file a lawsuit for personal injury against the driver. A personal injury attorney can explain the victims’ rights to them and help them decide if filing a suit is the best option.

Source: The Journal Times, “Alleged wrong-way Interstate driver facing charges,” Luke Feuerherm, Dec. 6, 2012