Convicted wrong-way driver Tamara McVicker sentenced to 14 months in prison

Tamara McVicker



MILWUAKEE -- 29-year-old Tamara McVicker was sentenced on Friday, Feb. 23 to 14 months in prison and another three years of extended supervision in connection with a wrong-way driving incident on I-41 that happened in April 2017.

McVicker pleaded guilty in December to two charges (second degree recklessly endangering safety, OWI second offense). A third charge, operating while revoked, was dismissed and read into the court record.



According to a criminal complaint, around 3:00 a.m. on April 9th, Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to multiple reports of a wrong-way driver headed southbound in the northbound lanes of 41/45. A deputy in a marked squad encountered the wrong-way driver, and noted a semi driver flashing the semi’s bright lights repeatedly in an effort to get the driver to stop. The semi was traveling parallel to the wrong-way vehicle and the driver was attempting to warn other drivers by flashing his lights. The deputy attempted to intervene, and the complaint says the wrong-way vehicle “passed his squad at 60 to 70 miles-per-hour in the median distress lane.” The complaint says McVicker traveled the wrong way on 41/45 for 9.8 miles.

Tamara McVicker



Another deputy encountered the wrong-way vehicle near Burleigh Street. That deputy noticed the first deputy was driving parallel to the wrong-way vehicle. When the vehicle began to slow, the second deputy maneuvered his squad in an attempt to block it, and get it to stop.

According to the complaint, when contact was made with the driver, it was noted she had a strong odor of alcohol coming from her, and red, glassy eyes.