Off-duty police officer narrowly avoids collision with wrong-way driver

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police say an off-duty police officer on the way home from work was able to help stop and arrest a wrong-way driver.

It happened on Thursday morning, April 17th around 3:00 a.m.

Police say the officer was on the ramp from southbound I-43 to eastbound I-794 when he noticed a car driving toward him the wrong way.

The officer braked suddenly to avoid a collision -- and the female driver of the car stopped her vehicle, turned around on the ramp and proceeded in the correct direction.

Police say the officer followed her and notified dispatch.

The vehicle exited the freeway, and police stopped it at S. Water Street and E. Seeboth Street.

Police say the driver appeared highly intoxicated and was taken into custody.

The driver is a 19-year-old woman from Greenfield.

She was arrested on charges of OWI and recklessly endangering safety.

The case will be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days.