Mount Pleasant police: Three arrested for OWI after causing 3-vehicle crash

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. (CBS 58) --- Three people were arrested for drunk driving after a three-vehicle accident, one of which was on fire on Sunday, Feb. 28.

Mount Pleasant police say it happened around 2:47 a.m. at the intersection of State Highway 11 and Durand Ave, and STH 32 and Sheridan Road.

Upon arrival, police say they located all three cars in the northbound lanes of STH 32 that all sustained heavy damage.

Officials say that no one was inside the car that was fully engulfed in flames. Police learned the occupant fled the scene prior to police arrival.

Police say an investigation found that a pick-up truck was traveling southbound in the northbound lane on STH 32. A SUV was traveling northbound at the same time and observed the truck's headlights heading in their direction. Police say the driver of the SUV swerved in an attempt to prevent a collision but was unsuccessful. The truck struck the SUV head-on.

Shortly after, the third vehicle involved, a Chevrolet Equinox, ended up colliding with the truck.

Due to the severity of the collision, the SUV burst into flames.

The driver of the pick-up truck and the Chevrolet Equinox both showed signs of impairment, according to police.

The driver of the SUV was located at the hospital and he also showed signs of impairment. 

According to Mount Pleasant police, the following drivers were arrested:

Christopher Sanchez, 33, from Racine was charged with first offense OWI.

Kraig Herbrechtsmeir, 56, from Racine was charged with first offense OWI and wrong way on a divided highway.

Herbert Acquirre-Lopez, 45, from Kenosha was charged with third offense OWI. 

All three cars were removed by towing companies due to heavy damage. 

Both northbound lanes of traffic had to be shut down temporarily due to the amount of debris in the roadway. One southbound lane was temporarily shut down for rescue personnel.

The scenes were cleared just before 5:30 a.m. on Sunday.