CHARGED: 23-year-old Milwaukee man faces felony charge after wrong-way driving incident on I-43

MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- A criminal complaint has been issued, charging a 23-year-old Milwaukee man accused of driving the wrong way on I-43 NB near Good Hope Road last Saturday, February 14th.

Eric Webb

Eric Webb has been charged with second degree recklessly endangering safety -- a felony.

The complaint indicates shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, a Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy was dispatched to I-43 NB at Good Hope Road after the Sheriff's Office received multiple reports of a wrong-way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.

As a deputy reached West Capitol Drive, he was attempting to get the attention of other vehicles traveling the correct way -- using his siren, and by serpentining his squad. He was able to get several vehicles to move away from one lane of I-43 NB.

The deputy then observed a vehicle headed towards him on lane one -- traveling the wrong way. The deputy continued to serpentine back and forth in an attempt to gain the attention of the driver of the wrong-way vehicle. As that driver, later identified as Eric Webb approached the deputy, he slowed down. Webb passed the deputy's squad and then came to a stop.

The deputy approached the vehicle, and observed Webb to have a strong odor of alcohol. Webb told the deputy he was trying to get to Good Hope Road -- pointing south, according to the complaint. The deputy says Webb told him he believed he was on North Avenue.

Due to the bitterly cold weather, field sobriety tests were not attempted at the scene.

A search of Webb's vehicle revealed a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey under a the driver's seat, according to the complaint.

Field sobriety tests were performed at the jail -- and the complaint indicates Webb performed poorly. Webb submitted to a preliminary breath test which showed a reading of .16.

Webb was interviewed, and he admitted to drinking several shots of whiskey and several beers, according to the complaint.

In addition to the felony charge, Webb was also issued a citation for OWI first offense.

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