Kenosha man arrested on suspicion of OWI after crash leaves driver seriously injured

Kenosha County Sheriff's Office

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) — A 31-year-old Kenosha man was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of operating while intoxicated after a three-vehicle crash left one driver seriously injured, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies and Somers Fire and Rescue responded shortly after 10:15 p.m. Nov. 10 to the intersection of County Highway E, also known as 12th Street, and County Highway Y, or 22nd Avenue.

A preliminary investigation found a pickup truck driven by Austin Ishman, 31, was traveling north on 22nd Avenue when it allegedly failed to stop at the intersection and struck a sedan traveling west on 12th Street, according to the sheriff's office.

The sedan then struck an SUV that was stopped at a red light in the southbound lanes of 22nd Avenue.

Three people, including an infant, were inside the sedan.

Authorities said the sedan's driver was unconscious but breathing and trapped inside the vehicle when first responders arrived. Somers Fire and Rescue extricated the driver, who was taken to a local hospital and remained in serious condition as of the latest update.

Another passenger suffered injuries that were not considered serious.

The infant was not injured but was taken to a hospital as a precaution before later being released to a family member.

The driver of the SUV was not injured.

Deputies arrested Ishman on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. Authorities said he was medically cleared at a hospital before being taken to the Kenosha County Jail.

The sheriff's office said it is referring several potential charges to the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office, including injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle, operating while intoxicated causing injury as a second or subsequent offense, possession of marijuana and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.

Ishman was also taken into custody on an outstanding warrant, according to the sheriff's office.

"Driving while intoxicated is a reckless and selfish decision that puts innocent lives at risk," Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner said. "We will not tolerate impaired driving in Kenosha County."

The investigation remains ongoing.

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