26-year-old Mount Pleasant man arrested for OWI, accused of driving wrong way on Highway 31
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Mount Pleasant police say a 26-year-old man was arrested for OWI -- first offense, accused of driving his vehicle the wrong way on State Highway 31 early Sunday morning, October 25th.
Shortly after 6:00 a.m., police were dispatched to reports of a male driver headed the wrong way on Highway 31 (S. Green Bay Road) near State Highway 20 (Washington Avenue) in Mount Pleasant.
A caller indicated a red vehicle was headed northbound in the southbound lanes on Highway 31 (a six-lane divided highway). The caller said the driver was slumped over the steering wheel as the vehicle passed the caller's location.
The vehicle continued northbound in the southbound lanes through the intersection, jumping the curb onto the grass area near the Georgie Porgie's restaurant property. The vehicle came to rest up against a landscape berm.
The non-responsive driver was locked inside.
When police arrived on scene, the driver was still locked inside and the vehicle was still running. Officers were unable to determine whether the man was breathing -- as he did not respond to numerous attempts to wake him.
An officer was able to break a rear window on the vehicle -- and rescue personnel were called out to the scene.
The driver was found to be breathing but lethargic, with officers detecting an odor of intoxicants on him. The driver refused medical attention and didn't appear injured.
Officials say the driver failed field sobriety tests at the scene. He was then taken into custody on charges of OWI - first offense, operating a motor vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration and illegal crossing/wrong way on a divided highway.