It happened again: Wrong-way driver collides with dump truck

Felipe Arriaga

GREENFIELD (WITI) -- Deputies responded to the scene of a wrong-way accident late Tuesday night, April 29th on westbound I-894 at the S. 76th Street off-ramp.

The wrong-way driver, identified by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office as 32-year-old Felipe Arriaga, entered the expressway eastbound on the westbound 76th off-ramp just before 11:30 p.m.

Authorities say he nearly collided head-on with another car, before striking a dump truck with enough force to turn it around on the ramp.

"We tend to think if a head-on collision is occurring, there might be some impairment of the driver," Brian Krueger, a heavy equipment operator with the Greenfield Fire Department said.

Sheriff's officials say Arriaga told deputies he had been drinking at the Mad Dog Saloon -- located about a block north of the ramp on 76th Street.

Officials say he was also in possession of marijuana.

Arriaga sustained minor injures and was transported to the hospital. The driver of the dump truck was not injured.

A witness stated that Arriaga's vehicle accelerated toward her at freeway speeds on the off-ramp. She was able to swerve and avoid a collision.

Arriaga faces potential charges of possession of a controlled substance, operating while intoxicated - 1st, operating without a valid license, and three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety.

Court records show Arriaga was cited last summer in Racine County for driving without a valid license or insurance.