Wrong-way drunk driver crashes, flees officers in South Shore

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office says a wrong-way drunken driver was arrested after he crashed his car and attempted to run from officers early Monday, October 7th.

Deputies were dispatched to locate a wrong-way driver just after 2 a.m. Monday. That driver was apparently traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-794 at Oklahoma Ave.

No vehicle was found on the freeway. But a short time later, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle that was driving southbound in the northbound lanes of Pennsylvania Ave. That driver ignored the squad's lights and siren -- and sped away.

Officials say the driver, 21-year-old Jose Carattini-Alicea of South Milwaukee, crashed into the woods near College Ave. and Lake Dr. Squads from Cudahy and South Milwaukee also responded to the scene.

Carattini-Alicea jumped out of the car and ran into the woods. But he was quickly taken into custody.

Officials say Carattini-Alicea's PBT was .15 -- or nearly twice the legal limit for driving. He told officers he had been drinking at a bar on Water St. in downtown Milwaukee.

Carattini-Alicea will face charges of recklessly endangering safety, fleeing and DUI-1st. If convicted on all charges, he faces up to 16 years in prison.