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Milwaukee County wrong-way OWI crash; squad car hit, man charged

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Published  January 6, 2026 2:31pm CST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX6 News Milwaukee
article

Zachariah Counsell 

The Brief

    • Zachariah Counsell was arrested after driving the wrong way for nearly two miles on I-43 in Milwaukee, ultimately striking a squad car.
    • Deputies reported that Counsell admitted to drinking "a lot," smelled of alcohol, had vomited on himself, and had marijuana scattered in his vehicle.
    • Counsell faces felony charges for second-degree recklessly endangering safety and OWI (2nd offense).

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man has been criminally charged in connection to a wrong-way OWI crash that left a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s squad car damaged. 

Prosecutors charged 23-year-old Zachariah Counsell with second degree recklessly endangering safety and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, 2nd offense. 

Dashcam video

Milwaukee County wrong-way OWI crash; squad car hit

Milwaukee County wrong-way OWI crash; squad car hit

A Milwaukee man has been criminally charged in connection to a wrong-way OWI crash that left a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s squad car damaged. Dash camera video of that incident has been released.

Wrong-way crash

The backstory:

According to the criminal complaint, around 2:40 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, a Milwaukee County Sheriff's Sergeant spotted a driver going northbound in the southbound lanes of I-43 near West Highland Avenue. 

Shortly after, a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputy reported that the wrong-way driver had hit his squad car on I-43 near Wright Street. 

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The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle that hit the squad car was identified as Zachariah Counsell. 

Wrong-way crash into Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office squad on I-43 in Milwaukee

Per the complaint, deputies on scene said Counsell had a hard time keeping his balance and needed help from deputies as they walked him to a squad car. 

Deputies reported that Counsell also "had a glazed look on his face and had vomited on himself," the complaint states. 

A search of Counsell's vehicle revealed marijuana shake scattered throughout the vehicle, per the complaint. 

According to the complaint, Counsell told deputies he was coming from "12" and heading to a strip club on 3rd Street. When the deputy asked how much he’d had to drink, Counsell stated that "he had a lot."

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Court filings say Counsell refused to perform the standard field sobriety tests.

Traffic cameras showed Counsell entering the highway the wrong way on Highland Avenue, then driving 1.5 to 2 miles the wrong way, passing multiple vehicles and nearly crashing into some of them. The deputy estimated that Counsell was going 30–45 mph. 

Court proceedings 

What's next:

Counsell made his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Monday, Jan. 5. Cash bond was set at $7,500. 

Counsell is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 14.

The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.

Crime and Public SafetyMilwaukeeNews