Suspected drunken driver arrested after driving wrong way on I-94, striking vehicle, patrol car
A 46-year-old Ann Arbor man with a history of drunken driving was arrested early Sunday after police said he drove the wrong way down Interstate 94, sideswiped a vehicle carrying children and struck a patrol car that had to wedge him into a ditch to get him to stop.
No one was seriously injured in the incidents, the Michigan State Police said.
The suspect, whom police said was heavily intoxicated and suffered only slight injuries, is being held at the Washtenaw County Jail and is expected to be arraigned Monday on multiple felony counts.
The incidents took place shortly after midnight when the suspect was driving his red sedan eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-94 near Scio Church Road in Pittsfield Township.
Police say the man, whose name was not release pending arraignment, sideswiped a Jaguar carrying an adult driver and three juveniles. He then struck a concrete median barrier while fleeing the scene.
The driver, still traveling in the wrong direction, then attempted to swerve past an ambulance that had taken a roadblock position and hit another concrete barrier.
A waiting State Police trooper who had similarly positioned himself to block the lanes then deliberately struck the suspect’s sedan with the front of his patrol car to get him to stop. When the suspect tried again to drive away, the officer used his patrol car to push him into a ditch and make the arrest, Sgt. Chris Pascoe said.
Authorities are awaiting the results of a blood test to determine the man’s blood-alcohol level. The suspect was also carrying suspected narcotics, which will be analyzed in a lab, police said.
“He was very intoxicated,” Pascoe said. “They had to take him to St. Joe’s to make sure he wasn’t injured and then they took him to the jail.”
The passengers in the sideswiped Jaguar were “not seriously injured, fortunately, just bounced around,” he added.
Authorities plan to seek charges of operating while intoxicated third degree, a felony, leaving the scene of an accident, fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance suspected of being a narcotic, Pascoe said.
The suspect has six prior drunken driving charges and two convictions, and he has a previous arrest for driving with a suspended license, police said.
It was unclear where the suspect was traveling to or from and why he was driving in the wrong lanes.
It's believed that multiple drivers reported the suspect to 911.
• Contact Sven Gustafson at sventg123(at)gmail(dot)com, or follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Mike Jordan
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 7:11 p.m.
I was the driver of the Jaguar that was hit. It was not a sideswipe as is indicated in the story. The drunk was not heading the wrong was on the highway until we hit him. Just like another commenter here, we were coming back from Cedar Point. My two daughters and one of their friends was in the car. About 5 miles before the accident a car went flying past us in the passing lane. He was weaving all over the highway and I commented to everyone that I think he is drunk and that we will most likely see him against the concrete barrier before long. Anyway, about 5 miles later we came up over a rise in the highway and there is a slight curve there (exactly at mile marker 172 heading west bound, this is where I came to a stop) is where we found the guy again. I moved to the left lane as I was appoaching the hill because there was a car off to the right with it's flashers on. As I came over the hill I saw his car across the passing lane and hit the brakes and turned hard to the right. I started to slide around him a bit and he took off across the highway hitting us directly in the doors on the drivers side. It was a hard enough of an impact that it tore his bumper, grill and headlights right off. They were laying in the center of the highway. After I did a quick verbal to check of everyone in the car I called 911. They asked if we were all ok and if the other person was ok. I looked in my mirror in time to see him take off going east bound on the west bound lanes. I told the operator what was going on and she told me that the police was on the way. It was about 45 minutes before a state trooper arrived, I found out that it was so long because they were dealing with him behind us on the highway. I truely believe it could have been worse and that it a person should never be allowed to get to 6 or 7 DUI's
Liz
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 2:46 a.m.
I am so glad you and your family are safe. Though it is infuriating to read about the inconvenience he caused, I am glad we aren't reading about a tragedy.
AdmiralMoose
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 4:52 p.m.
It sure seems crazy that a person could rack up so many DUI's and still be driving. But the laws were changed in the last few years: used to be that if you went 10 years without a DUI, the counter would reset. Not anymore. S'pose Joe has 4 DUI's in the 1970's (a *very* different era) but he gets help and stays sober. If he had another DUI in the 1990's, those first four wouldn't count against him on his fifth. The new laws allow prosecutors, judges, etc. to consider his *entire* lifetime of DUI's. So it's quite conceivable that someone could have a license with 6 DUI's.
cubicle
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.
Nitpicking here, but didn't the patrol car strike the suspect's vehicle and not the other way around as the headline implies?
actionjackson
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:18 p.m.
This article being right on the heels of Gary Lillie's life being taken in the same manner (suspected intoxicated driver) shows that the seriousness of these behaviors is not being handled in a manner that will keep most citizens safe. What is the answer to put a stop to it? Great job by HVA and the State trooper for keeping lives intact.
AA
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.
"The suspect has six prior drunken driving charges and two convictions, and he has a previous arrest for driving with a suspended license, police said. " What was his punishment for the sixth offense and from what court judge?
Duc d'Escargot
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
I believe "whom" in paragraph 3 should be nominative case. "Release" in paragraph 5 should be past tense. I'm sorry to quibble, but will we ever see a professional level of writing, proofing, and editing in this venue?
patroit728
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 4:30 a.m.
Good job MSP super trooper you are the best
Nephilim
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 2:55 a.m.
Just curious, but where are all the commenters that come out of cyberspace to blast on the cops when the article reads, officers are stepping up drunk driving enforcement? None of them want to jump up on this article and comment what a waste of taxpayers money it was for that trooper to intentionally damage state owned property? How about the danger that trooper and paramedic put that "alleged" drunk driver in by creating a road block then ramming him in the ditch? Come on folks, no one wants to jump on this article? Any who, good job MSP and HVA! Bless all of you and keep you safe!
RJA
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:55 a.m.
I have to agree with Terry Star 21, Thankful for all police and the ambulance driver. They did put their lives on the line to protect the public. I might add, that I think they went on and above their duty to stop this man. I have 0 tolerance for people that think it is OK to drink and drive. Great Job by all involved getting this person off the highway!
Peregrine
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:02 a.m.
I would like to know why six charges only turned into two convictions. What about the other four? Were they pleaded down to a lesser charge, and if so, why? And if so, who on the prosecutor's side decided on the plea?
Daman
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:45 a.m.
Coming home from Cedar Point, this guy almost hit my son and I head on. I needed run off the shoulder to keep from getting hit.
kdadnick
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11:46 a.m.
Glad you were alert and able to safely avoid him! Drunk drivers are (obviously) so erratic it's amazing no one was seriously injured or killed in this scenario.
JPLewis
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:24 a.m.
Life in prison on the previous conviction and this would not have happened.
Terry Star21
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
Great job of the police Officer and Ambulance driver for risking their lives, thus protecting other vehicles coming up to this wrong way scenario - saving injuries and possible loss of life. We should be very proud of how this situation was physically handled, as these wrong way freeway drivers rarely keep from causing fatalities.
nunya
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:34 a.m.
Terry, you are right on with this. So often wrong way drivers on a freeway end in a major accident. I am aware of several where entire families were wiped out. Great job MSP and HVA for the quick response and smart decisions. Clearly nothing but a jail cell will stop this person from attempting to murder people with his vehicle.
Ricebrnr
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 10:42 p.m.
Far as I'm concerned drunk drivers in cars are worse than terrorist.
Gorc
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:31 a.m.
Statistically you are correct...how many Americans are killed each year by drunk drivers and how many American are killed annually by terrorism? I'm sure it's not even close.
The Black Stallion3
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
It seems to me we should be thanking our judges for allowing this drunk to be in a vehicle instead of jail.........and we hear about a judge in Oakland county putting people in jail on their first offense.......I think she has it right.
slave2work
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 7:25 p.m.
There are so many right and wrongs with this.., obviously he shouldnt have been driving, but just because you dont have a piece a paper doesnt stop you from driving. Do you ever ask someone to see their license?..taking his car.. this is a hard one.. what if that is the only car for a family?. not fair to punish the rest because of his drinking.. This is all gonna fall on the courts. Lets hope that the judge makes him sit in jail for awhile.
Lola
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 9:13 p.m.
"this is a hard one.. what if that is the only car for a family?. not fair to punish the rest because of his drinking.. " What about the family he could have killed because he was driving in that condition? Maybe we should have prison farms for these people. They could be held to keep society safe while receiving treatment to get sober. In the mean time they'd be making themselves useful to the society they harmed (or could have harmed) by growing food. The cycle needs to stop!
ussubmariner
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 7:21 p.m.
I had the good fortune of getting a free night in jail for "OUIL' and I agree with facewash95. I accepted the baggage that came with my stupidity and stopped drinking all together. First time, it happens ! Second time should be such a bad an experience, that you should never be allowed to drive a motor vehicle again. Times have changed and if one hasn't learned that in this country, "Society dictates the Hierarchy of law ". That's why we have seat belt laws, baby seat laws and booster seat laws. Society said enough is enough.
breadman
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 7:16 p.m.
Why was this person cut loose with a history of drunken driving???
conservative
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
You're exactly right!!! They should be locked up forever!!!!
Fred Crothers
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 7:15 p.m.
We not only need to take their license away but remove their vehicle as well! Impound it and sell it!! Then AND ONLY THEN can we be somewhat sure they won't be back on the road again! How many more innocent bystanders will be killed or property needs to be damaged before we truly put a stop to their driving DRUNK/STONED????????
facewash95
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 6:57 p.m.
Placing greater restrictions on new drivers...fine, no problem. Safer for everyone. Allowing people with multiple drunk driving charges and convictions, compounded with previous license suspensions back onto our streets, roads and highways...real problem! Whatever Judge this timebomb appears before next, better have the courage to bring the whip down hard enough to keep us all safe from this menace. Everyone deserves a second chance, but not seventh, let alone a third, fourth, fifth or sixth.
Jack Gladney
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
6 priors and 2 convictions? Seriously? Was he licensed (important information omitted)? When are we going start treating drunk/stoned drivers like the menace to society they are and just lock them up until they are clean?
nickcarraweigh
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 6:31 p.m.
I wonder what the tip-off was that the guy might have been drinking?