At approximately 1:34 a.m. on Saturday, a Lincoln County Deputy conducting a traffic stop on Hwy. 51 near Irma witnessed another vehicle pass by his location traveling northbound in the southbound lane. He disengaged from the original traffic stop and was able to catch up and stop the wrong-way driver near the intersection of Hwy. 51 and Kaphaem Road in the town of Bradley. The operator exited his vehicle and approached the deputy. The operator then got back in the vehicle and fled northbound on Hwy. 51, initiating a high-speed pursuit.
The pursuit continued up the wrong side of the highway into Oneida County at speeds in excess of 100 mph. The suspect vehicle eventually turned west onto Fernwood Road. The suspect then turned around and proceeded back to Hwy. 51, where he turned back southbound. While Oneida County deputies were responding to the area, another Lincoln County deputy was able to get into position just south of Cty. L in Oneida County and attempt to deploy spike strips. That deployment was unsuccessful. A third Lincoln County deputy was able to successfully set up and deploy spike strips at the Hwy. 51 overpass over Oneida Cty. N. The suspect vehicle struck the spike strips, eventually deflating three of the vehicle’s tires. The vehicle then came to a stop on the Hwy. 51 off-ramp to Hwy. 8 back in Lincoln County where the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The total length of the pursuit was 25.2 miles with speeds ranging from 75 to 102 mph.
The suspect is a 65-year-old Jackson, Wis. man. He was initially arrested on charges of knowingly fleeing an officer (felony), 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety (felony), 3nd offense operating while intoxicated (misdemeanor), and operating after revocation (misdemeanor).
The investigation is ongoing. The suspect should make an initial appearance on Monday afternoon in Lincoln County Court where a bond will be set.