Wrong-Way Driver Arrested In FDL County

An intoxicated driver from Michigan was arrested in Fond du Lac County early Thursday, June 2, 2022.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department was notified at 2:12am, by numerous motorists reporting a vehicle travelling northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 41 from the Dodge/Fond du Lac County line.  

Deputies immediately responded to the area and located the vehicle still travelling northbound in the left (median side) southbound lane, south of USH 151.  

A deputy was able to pull up next to the vehicle with emergency lights and sirens activated, attempting to get the wrong way driver to realize he was travelling on the wrong side of the interstate.  The deputy also radioed ahead to other responding squads north of their location who could position themselves to block the interstate and get the driver stopped.  

A sheriff’s sergeant, with lights and sirens activated, attempted to block the wrong way driver by positioning his squad blocking the left lane at I-41 and S. Hickory St., with the wrong way driver slowing down but did not stop and struck the front driver’s side of the squad.  

After the impact, the suspect vehicle travelled partially into the median and stopped, and was taken into custody by deputies.  

The driver of the vehicle, a 61 year old male from Manistee, Michigan, who had difficulty even standing, registered four times the legal limit on a preliminary breath test, and told deputies he thought he was almost home.  

He was arrested by the Wisconsin State Patrol for suspicion of operating while intoxicated, and the State Patrol is also investigating the crash with the squad.  

There were no injuries reported in the incident.