Sheriff's deputy nearly struck by wrong-way driver speaks out



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy that narrowly avoided a head-on collision with a wrong-way driver in the southbound lanes of I-43 on Saturday, December 14th is speaking out.

The wrong-way driver, 33-year-old Alicia Sulok, is facing a second-degree recklessly endangering safety charge after she narrowly avoided striking a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy while driving the wrong-way on I-43 near Chase Avenue.

"The worst case scenario running through my mind was 'I'm going to witness a head-on collision with an innocent family'. But thankfully that didn't happen. We got her stopped in time," Sheriff's Deputy Michael Murphy said.

Murphy told FOX6 News that the night started out normal, with typical patrols, until he saw Sulok coming toward him. Murphy says his first instinct was to get her to stop -- that's when he was nearly struck head-on.

Murphy says he was in the far right lane when he originally saw Sulok, who was traveling in the far left lane. At that time, Murphy says he moved to the center lane. "I moved to the center lane and then she did as well, putting us on a collision path with each other," Murphy said.

According to the criminal complaint, the deputy spotted Sulok traveling the wrong-way without her headlights on around 2:30 a.m. At that time, the deputy re-routed to parallel the driver and caught up near Howard Avenue. The complaint indicates Sulok stopped for a moment and then continued to Edgerton Avenue before stopping again.

"There were numerous drivers that had to move out of her way. She, at one point, was going around other vehicles. She went all the way from one side of the highway to another just to avoid a semi," said Murphy.

Upon making contact with Sulok, the deputy detected a strong odor of intoxicants on her breath and asked to perform field sobriety tests. Sulok tested a .18 on the PBT -- more than twice the legal limit -- and was arrested.

DOT video shows Sulok drove the wrong-way on I-43 for approximately six miles before being pulled over.

Sulok was released on a signature bond Wednesday, December 18th following her first court appearance.