I-43 Milwaukee wrong-way crash, 3 dead: medical examiner

Two damaged vehicles on I-43/94
MILWAUKEE - Three people are now confirmed dead following the wrong-way crash on I-43 in Milwaukee early Saturday morning, Feb. 1.
The initial information from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office indicated two people died at the scene, and a third person was taken to the hospital.
That third person has also died, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.
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Medical Examiner's Investigation Report
What we know:
According to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner, they were called to the scene on Saturday, Feb. 1, just after 5 a.m. The crash scene was on I-43 northbound near National Ave.
All three of the three people who died were inside the vehicle, a Chevy Malibu, that entered I-43 northbound in the southbound direction.
Their vehicle struck an SUV in the area of National Avenue. That SUV was occupied by a two-year-old boy and his father. The sheriff's office says they were injured but are expected to survive.
Tentative identification of the three people who died was based on cousins who arrived at the scene believing it was their family members inside the vehicle, per the report:
- Lonnie Burke, 29
- Tanisha Warren, 31
- Aldriana Givens, 29
The medical examiner's report goes on to say that Lonnie was the driver of a white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu that was rented from Hertz Vehicles. Aldriana was the front seat passenger in the vehicle, and Tanisha was the backseat passenger. A white sedan and a dark-colored SUV both entered I-43 Northbound in a southbound direction at Plankinton Avenue just after 5 a.m. The SUV drove more slowly than the sedan, and turned around, leaving the freeway before National Avenue.
The white sedan continued to travel southbound in the northbound lanes, and another approaching vehicle swerved to avoid it. That vehicle struck another, and they came to rest together just north of National Avenue.
The white sedan continued to drive in a southbound direction and collided head on with a silver 2011 Volvo SUV that was traveling northbound. It came to rest with the driver's side tires up on the median wall, facing north. The Malibu came to rest in front of the SUV, facing south.
The conditions at the time were dry with clear visibility, per the report.
Scene visit
What we know:
The medical examiner noted that the Volvo SUV had extensive damage to the front, but there was minimal intrusion into the passenger compartment.
The Malibu sedan has extensive damage to the front, making it unrecognizable with significant intrusion into the inside of the passenger compartment. There was a large debris field between the two vehicles.
The medical examiner's report goes on to say that items of "evidentiary value" collected from the sedan included a "baggie of green leafy substance, cellphones, foil package of marijuana, a purse, coin purse, plastic party cups, and an open bottle of tequila."
The report also states that items located in Lonnie Burke's pockets included a "lighter on a clip, a wallet, a large baggie of suspected illicit substances (white rocks, white powder, gray rocks), foil package of tobacco leaves, and a foil package of marijuana." All of these items were collected by the sheriff's office for evidentiary purposes.
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Other wrong-way vehicle
What we know:
The sheriff's office said deputies are still looking for the driver of the second wrong-way vehicle. Investigators are also looking to see whether the two wrong-way vehicles are connected.
The second wrong-way vehicle was described as a dark or silver SUV.
The Source: The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office provided FOX6 with the investigation report and scene visit details. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office also provided information about the crash shortly after it happened.