Driver on wrong side of I-94 marks 2nd incident involving campaign motorcade in Milwaukee

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Stunning video shows the moment when a wrong way driver passed within feet of Vice President Kamala Harris' motorcade in Milwaukee.

The video is from I-94 at the Marquette Interchange.

It was taken on Monday, Oct. 21, not long after Harris wrapped up a campaign stop in Brookfield. It marks the second incident involving a campaign motorcade in Milwaukee.

Just last month, about a dozen people were hurt when three vehicles in Governor Tim Walz's motorcade crashed on I-794.

Reaction's pouring in and the wrong way driver incident's leaving yet another scar on the Secret Service.

Two campaign motorcades just seven weeks apart failed to be full proof here in Milwaukee.

"It's very, very concerning," said Bobby McDonald, Retired Supervisory Secret Service Agent and present lecturer for criminal justice at the University of New Haven.

It's concerning because a lot of time goes into planning the safety of such trips. The Secret Service works with local, state and federal partners.

"There are alternate routes developed. The agents will travel those routes with the officers that are gonna be responsible for closing down that highway. They're gonna want to make sure that both on ramps and off ramps are covered. Very scary to see the fact that somebody was able to get on what should've been a shut down highway," said McDonald.

As Vice President Kamala Harris' motorcade headed to the airport Monday from Brookfield, her flashing lights met up with an SUV traveling west in the eastbound lanes at the Marquette Interchange. The wrong way driver stayed to the right, and no one crashed. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office released a photo of 55-year-old Wayne Wacker who they arrested after deputies say they, "observed an open intoxicant in the vehicle." Charges were still pending Wednesday night.

"I mean thank God that nothing happened right and I'm glad that our Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office was able to stop that car and arrest that individual," said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

"That's a horrifying situation and I pray for her well-being in the rest of this campaign," said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) Wisconsin.

Monday's mishap comes on the heels of Governor Tim Walz' motorcade cash on I-794 in Milwaukee last month injuring a dozen people, and the assassination attempts on former President Trump, all putting greater scrutiny on the Secret Service.

"The independent group that looked at the Secret Service has suggested that we really revamp it from the top down that we need new leadership, fresh perspective, greater training," said Senator Baldwin.

"I'm not sure where that's being faulted if it's in a supervision issue, if it's young agents that are being put out in the advance process when they really shouldn't be again the Secret Service needs to tighten itself up here and figure out what's going wrong," said McDonald.

Retired agent McDonald goes on to say campaigns sometimes schedule events on short notice, especially as elections near, which can leave motorcade advance teams from the Secret Service to cut short their preparations. He said it's been a rough time for the Secret Service which is trying to right itself.