Chaze Biami pleads no contest to 6 felony counts in connection with wrong-way crash

MILWAUKEE -- 37-year-old Chaze Biami pleaded no contest on Monday, December 19th to three counts of injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and three counts of second degree reckless injury related to a wrong-way crash on I-43 in June.

Chaze Biami

Biami originally face 13 felony charges in connection with a wrong-way driving incident that happened early on Sunday, June 19th. But seven charges were dismissed in the case when Biami pleaded no contest to the other charges.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) indicated in a news release that Biami entered I-43 northbound from the Fond du Lac exit ramp around 4:30 a.m. — and struck another vehicle head-on at I-43 northbound at Wells St.

28-year-old Kathleen Mathews from Illinois was driving a blue Ford Escort — and was struck by Biami’s vehicle, Sheriff’s officials said. Mathews was initially found to be pulseless and not breathing. She had to be extricated from her vehicle. She was taken to Froedtert Hospital with serious injuries including broken ribs, kidney hematoma, a fractured right arm, fractures of both legs and an injury to her right lung. She was placed in a medically induced coma at the hospital.

Wrong-way wreck on I-43

Mathews' daughters, ages three and five, were also in the car restrained in booster seats. The five-year-old girl suffered cuts as well as pelvic and internal injuries. The three-year-old girl had a broken collarbone, cuts and internal injuries.

According to the criminal complaint, a deputy on the scene "detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from (Biami's) breath. Biami admitted drinking and stated that he drank "not that much." The complaint also says based on Biami's injuries, "he was unable to complete field sobriety tests." Officials say Biami tested a .14 on the PBT. He did not have a valid driver’s license. Biami was taken to a hospital for cuts and a fractured ankle.

Biami was found guilty by the court on Monday. A date for his sentencing has yet to be scheduled.