MILWAUKEE — A wrong-way driver fleeing police led to a terrifying experience for drivers early Thursday morning on I-43 in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Police Department says the chase was sparked by reckless driving.
Wisconsin DOT video captured an intense moment of the chase. The driver fleeing police drove in the wrong direction onto the Keefe Ave. exit en route to I-43. He weaved around two squads that were appearing to attempt to block the driver from the freeway.
"What in the world is going on, something's not right here,” said Mike Ryan. "He just flew right past me. He was going well over 100 miles an hour."
We didn’t have to go far to find a witness. Ryan is an editor at TMJ4. He says he was on his way to work shortly before 4:00 a.m. when the fleeing driver was heading in his direction at frightening speeds.
"It was one of those situations where you don't have a whole lot of time to think,” Ryan said.
Ryan ended up pulling over similar to several other drivers on the road.
"Just seeing him fly by makes you realize how close to disaster that was,” he said.
Milwaukee police say the chase started on the city’s north side. It ended for the first time as the driver entered the wrong way on I-43 and W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Video shows officers waiting on the North Ave. overpass as the driver took the off-ramp. That’s where police say they reinitiated the pursuit until the driver once again got on the freeway in the wrong direction.
Although the video shows police driving with their lights flashing on the freeway, they never drove the wrong way to catch the suspect.
"I would say it's beneficial to call it off if you don't have other options and the offense you're dealing with is a minor one,” said Robert Willis.
Willis is a retired officer who often serves as a police pursuit expert in court trials. He says it rarely ever makes sense for an officer to follow the lead of a wrong-way driver on the freeway simply due to the dangers to oncoming traffic. He adds that police pursuit policies rarely allow it.
"Officers are mandated to conduct themselves with due regard for the public,” he said. "You have to always balance the risks against the need for apprehension or the need for stopping someone. And that can change moment to moment.”
The driver ended up getting away. Anyone with information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7272. You can also remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.
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