Big Bend Police Department
BIG BEND, Wis. - Big Bend police arrested on Wednesday, April 1, a motorist for operating while under the influence (OWI) following what officials called "a series of dangerous driving maneuvers" that spanned two counties.
OWI arrest
What we know:
A news release says just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, officers were alerted to be on the lookout for a reckless vehicle. Initial reports from Walworth County indicated the suspect was traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-43, before self-correcting. The vehicle was reportedly approaching the Waukesha County line.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
Just after 6:30 p.m., dispatchers received new information that the same vehicle was traveling south in the northbound lanes near Moorland Road. The news release says the driver self-corrected again. However, witnesses said the vehicle continued to operate at high speeds and in a reckless manner.
Driver intercepted
Dig deeper:
A Big Bend police officer intercepted the vehicle on I-43 at Highway 164. The officer initiated a traffic stop. The officer saw the driver had vomited on themselves and was on the phone with someone. That driver was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety tests.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
The driver was taken into custody. An evidentiary breath test revealed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .23, or nearly three times Wisconsin's legal limit of .08. The driver was issued citations for the following:
- Operating while under the influence (1st offense)
- Possession of open intoxicants in a motor vehicle
- Unsafe lane deviation
The Source: Information in this post was provided by the Big Bend Police Department.