Salmon to make first court appearance on Sept. 17th

MILWAUKEE — 23-year-old Erin Salmon -- the woman charged with two criminal counts in connection with a collision with an off-duty Milwaukee police officer, will make her first court appearance Tuesday, September 17th.

That crash happened on eastbound I-94 near 30th Street early Wednesday, September 5th. Salmon is accused of driving the wrong way on the freeway, allegedly drunk.

As a result of the collision, Salmon and Officer Joshua Albert were each trapped inside their cars. Each was transported to Froedtert Hospital and listed in critical condition. Salmon is expected to have her third surgery on Thursday, and is expected to be discharged from Froedtert Hospital September 14th.

Salmon was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, September 11th. The judge asked her attorney to explain why she wasn't there.

"Ms. Salmon is still in the hospital on account of her injuries, and she hasn't been discharged yet," Julius Kim, Salmon's attorney said in court.

"I would like the court to set another adjourned initial appearance the following Monday. Because of the serious nature of this offense, I'd like her to appear before a judge or commissioner as soon as possible after she's out of the hospital," prosecutor Ronald Dague said.

That request was granted. Salmon is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, September 17th.

Officer Albert remains in the hospital in critical condition. He has a severe pelvic injury, spinal fluid leak, internal bleeding and a fracture of his femur.

The criminal complaint says Salmon drove the wrong way for about 2.4 miles with approximately 50 vehicles approaching and passing her. She did not have her vehicle's headlights on.

"She's absolutely mortified by what occurred here. She feels bad for the police officer. I think one thing that's impressed me about this family is that they're constantly aware that this has not only impacted their lives, but it's also impacted a whole other set of lives, and that is this officer's family," Kim said.

Salmon faces one count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and one count of injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.

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